Aries Throwback - "Culture Club" - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Here's the Throwback puzzle for the month, titled "Culture Club," which was originally published in The Growler in 2019. I found out (secondhand) that The Growler officially ceased publication last month, which means that I'll no longer have any more puzzles there. It was fun while it lasted though! Hope you enjoy this puzzle - it's got a beer theme but it should be accessible for non-beer nerds too. Happy solving!
Showing posts with label Crossword. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crossword. Show all posts
Thursday, August 13, 2020
Thursday, August 6, 2020
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Aries Throwback - "Deep in the Heart of Texas"
"Deep in the Heart of Texas" - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Here's this month's Throwback puzzle, which comes from my 2012 book Texas Crosswords. My old neighbors Hannah and Xavier just moved to Texas so I thought it would be appropriate to post a puzzle from the this book. Though it now seems like a lifetime ago, I specifically remember writing this puzzle, and it's one of my favorites from the book. I did edit a few parts of the grid, which also meant that I had to think a little harder than usual for the new clues - as I'm now more of a cluing minimalist, I think 6-Down is my favorite clue. Hope you enjoy!
I've updated the Monthly Bundles to include the June 2020 puzzles, and I've also added the 2020 First Half puzzles on the archive pages for Aries Rows Garden and Aries Freestyle. If you're not currently a subscriber and want to check out what you're missing, get your hands on a bundle or two!
Here's this month's Throwback puzzle, which comes from my 2012 book Texas Crosswords. My old neighbors Hannah and Xavier just moved to Texas so I thought it would be appropriate to post a puzzle from the this book. Though it now seems like a lifetime ago, I specifically remember writing this puzzle, and it's one of my favorites from the book. I did edit a few parts of the grid, which also meant that I had to think a little harder than usual for the new clues - as I'm now more of a cluing minimalist, I think 6-Down is my favorite clue. Hope you enjoy!
I've updated the Monthly Bundles to include the June 2020 puzzles, and I've also added the 2020 First Half puzzles on the archive pages for Aries Rows Garden and Aries Freestyle. If you're not currently a subscriber and want to check out what you're missing, get your hands on a bundle or two!
Thursday, July 2, 2020
July FREEstyle
July 2020 FREEstyle - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution | "Night Moves" Solution
Back with this month's FREEstyle, which is a 64-word, 34-block puzzle. Going with a rectangular shaped 14x16 grid for a change of pace. Hope you enjoy!
Congrats to Patrick Jordan and Richard Allen for winning the "Night Moves" cryptic contest! Thanks to all 116 solvers who submitted a final answer - I was pleasantly surprised by the high number of entrants for this contest. For those interested in the solution to "Night Moves," see above.
Also, I'm happy to plug the freshly released "Grids for Good" puzzle pack, available upon a donation to a charity for Covid relief or racial justice. There's over 40 puzzles written by a wide range of crossword stars, including a few variety puzzles and metapuzzles with prizes for winners. High quality work which goes towards supporting worthy causes - get on it!
Back with this month's FREEstyle, which is a 64-word, 34-block puzzle. Going with a rectangular shaped 14x16 grid for a change of pace. Hope you enjoy!
Congrats to Patrick Jordan and Richard Allen for winning the "Night Moves" cryptic contest! Thanks to all 116 solvers who submitted a final answer - I was pleasantly surprised by the high number of entrants for this contest. For those interested in the solution to "Night Moves," see above.
Also, I'm happy to plug the freshly released "Grids for Good" puzzle pack, available upon a donation to a charity for Covid relief or racial justice. There's over 40 puzzles written by a wide range of crossword stars, including a few variety puzzles and metapuzzles with prizes for winners. High quality work which goes towards supporting worthy causes - get on it!
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Aries Throwback - "Super Stars"
Aries Throwback - "Super Stars" - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Here's the Throwback puzzle for the month, titled "Super Stars." This easy-medium puzzle was originally published in The Growler in 2017. Hope you enjoy!
Here's the Throwback puzzle for the month, titled "Super Stars." This easy-medium puzzle was originally published in The Growler in 2017. Hope you enjoy!
Thursday, June 4, 2020
June FREEstyle
June 2020 FREEstyle - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution PDF
Here's the FREEstyle for June, which is a 73-word, 34-block puzzle. This puzzle started with the 16-letter entry at 38-Across. I also enjoyed getting in a few long entries especially appropriate for Pride Month. Be well, everybody, and happy solving!
Here's the FREEstyle for June, which is a 73-word, 34-block puzzle. This puzzle started with the 16-letter entry at 38-Across. I also enjoyed getting in a few long entries especially appropriate for Pride Month. Be well, everybody, and happy solving!
Thursday, May 14, 2020
Aries Throwback - "Play With Your Food"
Thursday, May 7, 2020
May FREEstyle
May 2020 FREEstyle - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution PDF
Thanks for all the feedback regarding last week's Twists & Turns! Back with a standard Freestyle this week. This puzzle is a 70-word, 28-block puzzle. 7-Down was the seed entry here, and I especially like how the center section feeds into the northeast and southwest sections of the grid.
Happy solving!
Thanks for all the feedback regarding last week's Twists & Turns! Back with a standard Freestyle this week. This puzzle is a 70-word, 28-block puzzle. 7-Down was the seed entry here, and I especially like how the center section feeds into the northeast and southwest sections of the grid.
Happy solving!
Thursday, April 9, 2020
Aries Throwback - "That's Debatable"
Aries Throwback - "That's Debatable" - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Here's this month's Throwback puzzle, titled "That's Debatable," which was originally published in February 2019 in The Growler magazine. Happy solving!
Here's this month's Throwback puzzle, titled "That's Debatable," which was originally published in February 2019 in The Growler magazine. Happy solving!
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Aries Throwback - "Giving Back"
Aries Throwback - "Giving Back" - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Back with this month's Throwback puzzle! This puzzle, titled "Giving Back," was originally published in 2017 in The Growler magazine. This is a pretty simple theme but fun at the same time. I like that 18-Across is now more personal to me than when I originally wrote the puzzle, as one of my neighbors is from there, and as a result I see lots of that cool trident flag!
Happy solving, and stay safe out there.
Back with this month's Throwback puzzle! This puzzle, titled "Giving Back," was originally published in 2017 in The Growler magazine. This is a pretty simple theme but fun at the same time. I like that 18-Across is now more personal to me than when I originally wrote the puzzle, as one of my neighbors is from there, and as a result I see lots of that cool trident flag!
Happy solving, and stay safe out there.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
March FREEstyle
March 2020 FREEstyle - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Got the March FREEstyle this week, but first let's recap the Cryptic contest from last month, "Treasure Hunt." There were 84 correct entries this time around, and the randomly-selected winner is Tim Tebbe. Tim has chosen a two-month Bundle subscription as his prize - congrats Tim! Thanks for all who solved. Here's the solution including the meta explanation:
Aries Cryptic #23 "Treasure Hunt" - Solution (PDF)
Back to the FREEstyle for this month, which is a 70-word, 29-block puzzle. This one started with the entry at 20-Across. With the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice recently commemorated, I had a chance to watch the full game for the first time in many years. It was instructive to watch just how much the US was outmatched in that game, and how terrible first-period Soviet goaltending in particular was the key for the Americans to have any shot of competing. The broadcast certainly is a memorable one, and Al Michaels' play-by-play throughout the game was stellar, not just the famous call at the end of the game. Underappreciated is the color work by the then recently-retired Ken Dryden, whose voice-cracking "Unbelievable!" after Michaels' famous call punctuates the moment. Good stuff!
Got the March FREEstyle this week, but first let's recap the Cryptic contest from last month, "Treasure Hunt." There were 84 correct entries this time around, and the randomly-selected winner is Tim Tebbe. Tim has chosen a two-month Bundle subscription as his prize - congrats Tim! Thanks for all who solved. Here's the solution including the meta explanation:
Aries Cryptic #23 "Treasure Hunt" - Solution (PDF)
Back to the FREEstyle for this month, which is a 70-word, 29-block puzzle. This one started with the entry at 20-Across. With the 40th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice recently commemorated, I had a chance to watch the full game for the first time in many years. It was instructive to watch just how much the US was outmatched in that game, and how terrible first-period Soviet goaltending in particular was the key for the Americans to have any shot of competing. The broadcast certainly is a memorable one, and Al Michaels' play-by-play throughout the game was stellar, not just the famous call at the end of the game. Underappreciated is the color work by the then recently-retired Ken Dryden, whose voice-cracking "Unbelievable!" after Michaels' famous call punctuates the moment. Good stuff!
Monday, March 2, 2020
2019 Orca Awards - Best Freestyle winner!
The ninth annual Orca Awards have been announced! This list of the year's best in puzzling is the brainchild of Sam Donaldson at the Crossword Fiend blog, and is always a treat to read. This year was especially special, as Caitlin Reid took home Best Freestyle for her guest Aries Freestyle puzzle from last October!
One of the highlights of 2019 was working with all six guest constructors for Aries Freestyle - C.C. Burnikel, Peter Wentz, Stella Zawistowski, Neville Fogarty, and Doug Peterson, in addition to Caitlin. In the case of Caitlin's puzzle, I was particularly awed by the smoothness of the grid, but I think the puzzle was elevated even higher by the cleverness of Caitlin's clues. A true masterpiece - congrats Caitlin!
One of the highlights of 2019 was working with all six guest constructors for Aries Freestyle - C.C. Burnikel, Peter Wentz, Stella Zawistowski, Neville Fogarty, and Doug Peterson, in addition to Caitlin. In the case of Caitlin's puzzle, I was particularly awed by the smoothness of the grid, but I think the puzzle was elevated even higher by the cleverness of Caitlin's clues. A true masterpiece - congrats Caitlin!
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Aries Throwback - "Communication Breakdown"
Thanks for all those who submitted an answer to the "First-Class" meta contest from last month! There were 26 correct entries along with 3 incorrect entries. The randomly-selected winner among the correct entries is Brian Hattenbach, who will receive a two-month Aries subscription of his choice! Here's the solution PDF, which includes the explanation of the meta answer:
Aries Meta "First-Class" - Solution
And here is this month's Throwback puzzle, an easyish puzzle originally published in 2015 titled "Communication Breakdown." This one has a basic theme that makes use of some fun theme answers. Hope you enjoy!
Communication Breakdown - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Aries Meta "First-Class" - Solution
And here is this month's Throwback puzzle, an easyish puzzle originally published in 2015 titled "Communication Breakdown." This one has a basic theme that makes use of some fun theme answers. Hope you enjoy!
Communication Breakdown - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Thursday, February 6, 2020
February FREEstyle
Here's the February FREEstyle, which is a 68-word, 34-block puzzle. This puzzle features the classic staggered 11s in the middle, which I don't do too often anymore. Always good to revisit a successful format like this. Hope you enjoy!
The January 2020 monthly bundles are now available! Special attention to the January Freestyle bundle, which includes a 21x21 freestyle that I sent to subscribers last week, if you're interested in a supersized challenge.
Also, still time to send in your answer to the "First-Class" meta crossword that was posted last week. Deadline for entries is next Wednesday, February 12th, at 7 PM PST.
Happy solving!
February FREEstyle - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
The January 2020 monthly bundles are now available! Special attention to the January Freestyle bundle, which includes a 21x21 freestyle that I sent to subscribers last week, if you're interested in a supersized challenge.
Also, still time to send in your answer to the "First-Class" meta crossword that was posted last week. Deadline for entries is next Wednesday, February 12th, at 7 PM PST.
Happy solving!
February FREEstyle - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Aries Meta - "First-Class"
For the fifth Thursday this month, I've got a meta crossword! Puzzle lovers undoubtedly are familiar with meta crosswords, whose rise to mainstream popularity over the last decade must be primarily attributed to Matt Gaffney, who writes metas for his Matt Gaffney's Weekly Crossword Contest as well as the Wall Street Journal.
This meta, titled "First-Class," is a toughie - let's figure a solid Week 4 on the Gaffney scale. Consider yourself forewarned! The meta answer is a five-letter article of clothing that's missing from the grid. Submit your answer via email by 7 PM on Wednesday, February 12th. One randomly-chosen correct entry will receive a free 2-month Aries Puzzles subscription of their choice! If the winner already is a subscriber, they would receive a 2-month extension to their subscription.
I'm considering adding meta puzzles as a regular feature of the site, so if you enjoyed this puzzle, let me know in the comments or your submission email! I've got ideas for metas involving non-standard crossword formats such as cryptics and Rows Gardens as well, so if this sounds like something you'd like to see more of around here, do let me know!
Happy solving!
Aries Meta "First Class" - PUZ | PDF | Grayscale PDF | Solution (PDF)
This meta, titled "First-Class," is a toughie - let's figure a solid Week 4 on the Gaffney scale. Consider yourself forewarned! The meta answer is a five-letter article of clothing that's missing from the grid. Submit your answer via email by 7 PM on Wednesday, February 12th. One randomly-chosen correct entry will receive a free 2-month Aries Puzzles subscription of their choice! If the winner already is a subscriber, they would receive a 2-month extension to their subscription.
I'm considering adding meta puzzles as a regular feature of the site, so if you enjoyed this puzzle, let me know in the comments or your submission email! I've got ideas for metas involving non-standard crossword formats such as cryptics and Rows Gardens as well, so if this sounds like something you'd like to see more of around here, do let me know!
Happy solving!
Aries Meta "First Class" - PUZ | PDF | Grayscale PDF | Solution (PDF)
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Aries Throwback - "Imperial Exit"
Back with this month's Throwback puzzle, titled "Imperial Exit," which is a 78-word, 38-block puzzle. This puzzle originally appeared in 2018 in The Growler magazine, whose puzzle I write along with Victor Barocas. The Growler is a food and drink magazine and specifically a craft beer magazine, and this puzzle is very much at home in a beer-themed publication. Cheers!
Imperial Exit - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Imperial Exit - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
January FREEstyle
Here's the January FREEstyle, which is a 70-word, 30-block puzzle. This puzzle started with the squarish 6x5 chunks in the top left and bottom right. As a keep-it-simple grid challenge, it was a worthwhile exercise. Hope you enjoy!
January FREEstyle - PUZ | PDF | PDF - Grayscale | Solution
January FREEstyle - PUZ | PDF | PDF - Grayscale | Solution
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Aries Throwback - "Fluctuating Temps"
Going back to one of the very last Aries Xword puzzles, a seasonal offering titled "Fluctuating Temps." This is an extra sized 17x16 puzzle, and features some challenging cluing - be prepared for a workout with this one.
Happy solving!
Fluctuating Temps - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Happy solving!
Fluctuating Temps - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | Solution
Thursday, December 5, 2019
December FREEstyle
Here's the December FREEstyle, which is a 68-word, 32-block puzzle.
This puzzle started with the entry at 37-Across. I find this site especially interesting in that it is an attempt to separate the sports page from the newspaper and turn it into a standalone entity. A fancy term for this is "dis-aggregation," according to the Internet, and dis-aggregation is something that the world of independent and online crossword puzzles are also attempting. The history of the crossword puzzle is intrinsically tied to newspapers, and as more and more print versions of newspapers fully transition to online spaces, it is uncertain which print newspaper traditions will also make the jump into a new age of media. I think that crosswords are doing well to make this transition, but there is still a ways to go, and news media will still likely be the primary lifeforce of the crossword puzzle, at least in the near future. However, like the website referenced at 37-Across, independent puzzle sources represent a unique challenge to the traditional model, and I for one am excited to be a part of this still-developing landscape.
A reminder that while subscriptions to Aries Rows Garden and Aries Freestyle are always open, there is a special gift subscription offer running through the holiday season. If you purchase one subscription, you can purchase a second gift subscription for 50% off! For more details, check out the Subscriptions page.
Happy solving!
December FREEstyle - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | | Solution
This puzzle started with the entry at 37-Across. I find this site especially interesting in that it is an attempt to separate the sports page from the newspaper and turn it into a standalone entity. A fancy term for this is "dis-aggregation," according to the Internet, and dis-aggregation is something that the world of independent and online crossword puzzles are also attempting. The history of the crossword puzzle is intrinsically tied to newspapers, and as more and more print versions of newspapers fully transition to online spaces, it is uncertain which print newspaper traditions will also make the jump into a new age of media. I think that crosswords are doing well to make this transition, but there is still a ways to go, and news media will still likely be the primary lifeforce of the crossword puzzle, at least in the near future. However, like the website referenced at 37-Across, independent puzzle sources represent a unique challenge to the traditional model, and I for one am excited to be a part of this still-developing landscape.
A reminder that while subscriptions to Aries Rows Garden and Aries Freestyle are always open, there is a special gift subscription offer running through the holiday season. If you purchase one subscription, you can purchase a second gift subscription for 50% off! For more details, check out the Subscriptions page.
Happy solving!
December FREEstyle - PUZ | PDF | PDF (Grayscale) | | Solution
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Aries Throwback - "Land O' Flakes"
This month's Throwback puzzle is a bit of a nostalgic milestone for me - this month marks the ten-year anniversary of Minnesota Crosswords, which was my first major crossword project, and which technically led to the birth of Aries Puzzles as a legal entity.
The book has been out of print for a while, but it had a nice run, and while my work has vastly improved over these ten years, I still look back fondly at that time when I wrote the book. This puzzle is mostly a fully-revamped version of the original, which appeared in the book - my standards for fill have increased a bit in the last ten years - but the theme answers are all intact, and I even wedged in a couple of extra Minnesota references for nostalgia's sake, which I hope you don't mind. 15-Across didn't need to be in the grid, but hey, a Minnesota-inspired crossword may be the best context to use that answer, so there you go.
Happy solving!
Land O' Flakes - PUZ | PDF | Grayscale PDF | Solution
The book has been out of print for a while, but it had a nice run, and while my work has vastly improved over these ten years, I still look back fondly at that time when I wrote the book. This puzzle is mostly a fully-revamped version of the original, which appeared in the book - my standards for fill have increased a bit in the last ten years - but the theme answers are all intact, and I even wedged in a couple of extra Minnesota references for nostalgia's sake, which I hope you don't mind. 15-Across didn't need to be in the grid, but hey, a Minnesota-inspired crossword may be the best context to use that answer, so there you go.
Happy solving!
Land O' Flakes - PUZ | PDF | Grayscale PDF | Solution
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