Ryan and Brian Do Crosswords

Hey, we have 29 signatures on our Save The Second Sunday Puzzle petition.  Just 471 more until we hit 500.  Well, however many we have, we’re sending it off to the New York Magazine publishers in a week or so.  The more signatures we have the more likely they’ll take a serious look at it so please check it out.

Today’s puzzle was by Joe Krozel, Rhymes With Puzzle.  Whenever I see his name in the byline I know I’m in for a tough time.  I also know there’s bound to be something very cool and creative about the grid.  Joe did not disappoint.

First off, the grid is not symmetrical.  Or maybe it is but not in the traditional crossword way.  There are also three 15-letter answers that interlock in a U formation.  And it took me about 10 minutes to even begin filling in the grid.  This is one of those puzzles that I can’t believe I no-googled.  Looking back at the clues nothing looks particularly gettable but the excellent cluing and construction allowed the answers to slowly reveal themselves.

Oddly, the two 15-letter down clues were among the easier to figure out.

1D. Torturous, perhaps (CRUEL AND UNUSUAL).  Great clue.

6D. They may avert computer damage (SURGE PROTECTORS).

The 15-letter across clue took me a number of crossing to finally get.

44A. Story-filled magazine since 1922 (TRUE CONFESSIONS).  I’ve vaguely heard of this magazine but I had no idea it was still being published.  The look has certainly changed over the years but I bet the stories are much the same.

The rest of the grid was filled with some great stuff.

11A. Composition of some old crowns (LAURELS).  At first, I thought this was referring to money.  It took some crosses to key into the correct answer.

13A. 1941 #1 hit for Tommy Dorsey (DOLORES).  Total, total guess.

15A. They’re irregular (ABERRATIONS).  Another good one.  Thought this would end in SIZES at first.

Ok, I’m just noticing now that the grid is in the shape of a heart with a crack through it which must be a reference to 7A. and 9A. Missouri city whose name means “broken heart” (CREVE COEUR).  Clever guy, that Krozel.

30A. Like some relations (PREMARITAL).  This may be one of my favorite clue/answers of all time.  Click the picture for a discussion on PREMARITAL relations from a 1965 issue of Playgirl. The discussion seems pretty run of the mill until this paragraph:

Dick doesn’t know it but when we just started going steady. I found out that one time when he lied and said he couldn’t take me out. he was out with the boys—out whorering. I dated a former beau that night and came as close as I ever did to losing my virginity. I did things that night, that in retrospect shock me now, but I was angry and I was trying to get even for the hurt of being tossed aside for a strumpet.

39A. Records (ACTA).  Joe, what the hell does this mean?

50A. Housekeeper player on “Benson” (SWENSON).  Why on Earth do I know this?  For whatever reason, Inga SWENSON’s name is tattooed on my brain.

28D. Stuck at a roast (SPITTED).  I almost got this right away but I put ON A SPIT as my first guess.

29D. “C’mon, at least consider it!” (HUMOR ME).  More great stuff.

31D.  The merchant of Venice (ANTONIO).  This one I knew but it didn’t seem right.  This whole bottom right corner gave me fits.

45D. and 41D. Quaint sandlot game (ONE A CAT).  Thank you, crosswords, for teaching me terms I’ll never encounter outside of crosswords.

46D. Broadcast (SOW).  Even the three-letter entries were tough.

Great puzzle, Joe.  I know you read the blog so we’d love for you to chime in and talk a little about your process here.  How did you come up with the grid design?  Did you have a key word that you built the puzzle around?  What the hell does ACTA mean?

Next stop, Saturday.