Hello, Puzzle People!

Thanks for stopping by. Today’s puzzle is likely the last standard crossword you’ll see for a while on Square Pursuit. So much cool stuff has been happening for me in crossworld that I’m finding it a bit tough to keep up with everything. Here’s the plan:

I’m going to keep the quiptics coming on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month, because they’re a unique part of my constructing load and I know they’re a big solving ritual for a lot of folks. Full-sized and variety cryptics, like the standard crosswords, are going to pop up when it feels fun and there’s bandwidth on my end. It will end up being 2-3 puzzles per month instead of 4, but I’m always around! My cryptics will continue to run in The Browser and elsewhere, my variety puzzles at Square Chase, my themeless crosswords as part of the Newsday Saturday Stumper, and my themed ones when they come up in other newspapers. There will still be cool things on some Wednesdays here in addition to those quiptics, like a second Alphabetical Jigsaw in June!

Thanks to Brooke for the test solve!

Take care and enjoy the puzzle! I’ll be back in a week with a fresh quiptic!

solve online / puz / pdf / solution

Hello, Crossfolks!

Thanks for coming by for the monthly non-cryptic crossword. I had an absolute blast speaking to so many crossword folks this past weekend at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, and it really got me fired up to share a puzzle of this sort. It was exceptionally cool to meet so many of my constructor friends in person, finally. Thanks to Brooke for the clutch test solving on this one.

Speaking of puzzle people, the crossword graphic novel “Letters to Margaret” by longtime cryptic test solver Hayley Gold is finally here! If you haven’t yet, go check it out!

In cryptic news, I’ll be back later throughout the month with two quiptics and a blocked cryptic, which I hope you enjoy as well!

Take care and enjoy the puzzle! I’ll see you in seven with a gentle quiptic.

solve online / puz / pdf / solution

Hello, crossword fans!

What a treat for me this week — I get to share a puzzle I made with the great Mike Lieberman! I got the invitation to work on this theme idea of his because he very rightly pegged me as the guy who makes all the puzzles about food. Mike and I share an affinity for punny themes, and he’s dropped a lot of puzzles with terrific ones in the New York Times and elsewhere. If you want to see what I’m talking about, you can find his work in all the best newspapers, or if you’re feeling daring (and you know you are!), why not go after one of his lemon-fresh Puns and Anagrams puzzles? This one is his most recent banger from the NYT, and this one is a smaller gem, co-constructed with the wonderful Kate Chin Park.

Here’s Mike:

It’s such a privilege to collaborate with Steve and such an honor to make an appearance here at Square Pursuit! All of the wonderful things you’ve heard about Steve are true, and working with him on this puzzle was an absolute pleasure. Enjoy the puzzle and then go subscribe to Steve’s Patreon!

Take care and enjoy the puzzle! Cryptic folks, I’ve got you covered for the rest of the month with two quiptics, one big-ol cryptic, and another collab in the pipeline!

solve online / puz / pdf / pdf SOLUTION

Thanks for coming by. I’m glad to be starting 2022 out with a good old-fashioned US crossword. I hope you all like it! Thanks to Brooke for the test solve.

This past Saturday, Square Chase subscribers received their first variety cryptic of the year. I won’t be plugging it much on the blog from this point on, but you can always find the link on the left side of the page. If you haven’t started solving cryptics yet, I recommend you give some a try this year — they’ve made my life so much more fun!

Take care and enjoy the puzzle. I’ll be back in seven with a gentle quiptic.

solve online / puz / pdf / solution

It’s the festive season again and music is all around us. I hope this puzzle is a cruciverbal cup of hot cocoa, keeping you warm while jolly melodies fill the air around you. My thanks to Brooke for the thoughtful test-solving.

In other news, I put out a survey last month and you really answered! I’m very happy to be introducing Square Chase, a twice-monthly collection of 24 variety cryptics in 2022. I’m excited to stretch these particular creative muscles, and hope you’ll join me by subscribing and solving along. Watch for the official drop in the next couple of weeks.

For those of you who just want to stop by and solve some puzzles, the regular site isn’t going anywhere. Every month, there will be a themed crossword the first Wednesday, a themeless, cryptic, or variety cryptic on the third Wednesday, and quiptics (I’m thrilled by all the interest) on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month. You’ll also be seeing more of my work in other venues next year.

Take care and enjoy the puzzle! I’ll see you next week with a gentle quiptic!

solve online / puz / pdf / solution

Thanks for coming by. I’ve got the November themed crossword here with me, and it should be a gentle-ish challenge. This one is me threading the needle, building something around my particular interests while trying to make everybody feel welcome and entertained. I wonder if you cross over with me on this one, and hope you feel seen if you don’t. Wherever it all lands, I wish you smiles and happy solving!

Quick shout to a couple of cool crossword people: I made this other cool puzzle with the great Enrique Henestroza Anguiano for his blog, and if you liked what you saw today I hope you’ll check it out. Brooke Husic, who did the test solving for today’s puzzle, makes tons of cool puzzles and I’ve had the pleasure of making a few cool ones with her as well. Brooke and Enrique made this really cool word list together which you should also give a spin if you make crossword puzzles or have aspirations of doing so. A very cool crossword triangle to be a part of, if you ask me. I’m infinitely grateful.

One more quick thing — I’ve still got this survey going about the direction of Square Pursuit. If you have a minute and haven’t done so already, would you consider giving me some feedback? I’m trying to figure out how to best spend my crossword time and energy on this site and beyond. I’d really appreciate the help.

And there we are! Take care and enjoy the puzzle. See you in 5 with a quiptic and 7 with a challenging cryptic.

solve online / puz / pdf / solution

Greetings, Crossfolks!

In honor I’ve my favorite time of year, I made you something breezy and seasonal — nothing tough or cryptic. Next week we’ll be back in the cryptic mode with a gentle quiptic and a blocked challenger. I hope you’re in a safe place to get outside and enjoy this special time, that is if it’s indeed autumn where you are and you’re not solving too many crossword puzzles to do so.

Thanks to Brooke for the test solve!

That’s it from me. Take care, enjoy and see you next week with those cryptics!

solve online / puz / pdf / solution

In honor of our collective return, I’ve got a tricky themed crossword today. I hope you enjoy it!

Thanks to Brooke for the test solve!

I’ve got a little birthday treat dropping on Sunday and a holiday cryptic dropping one day early next Tuesday!

solve online / puz / pdf / solution