Steve's Crosswords
All Crosswords (by date) (latest: Watershed Wandering #01; 05/03/2024)
Articles, Interviews, Presentations | Formats | Sources | Notes
Crosswords alphabetically:
AN=Ashland.news (OR); JCLS=Jackson County Library Services (OR);
NYT=New York Times; OLLI=Osher Lifelong Learning Inst. (at So. OR Univ.)
Across the Ages and Down the Pages (AN) | Across the Border (JCLS: #01-05) |
Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid | Be Safer on Internet | Bloomin' Like Crazy | Both Sides Now |
Candidates | Camelot Theatre (AN): 2024 #01, #02 | Carnivore for Congress |
Cascadia Commotion (AN): #01 | CERT |
Choking Hazard | CMC | Coastal Curmudgeons (AN): #01 | Creature Cards |
Crosspassword | CrosspOLLInation (AN): 2024 Spring | Crossword Mug (template) |
Crosswords&You: topics | CrozzWord | Crucigramitas | Cyclops |
Diet Delights |
Eleven | Enneagram Crucigram | ExtraORdinary Places (AN): #01 |
Fall into Adventure (JCLS: #01-05) | Firefox |
Gnus and Views | Grid Girder |
Hikes & Gear | Hoppy Grand Opening |
Ironic Butterfly |
JCLS: 2024 Spring, Winter; 2023: Fall, Summer | Jello Shots |
La La Land | Level Up (JCLS: #01-18) |
Miss Calculation |
Newton | Not Stroganoff. Try Again | NYT: Wed, 11/1/2023) |
Oh, Deer! (AN): #01 | OLLI Olio | OLLI OLLI Oxen Free |
(for more OLLI, see: schoOLLIfe, Seasoned Rolls,
Story Time at the Library; AN: CrosspOLLInation series) |
On the Trail of an ... | Open Sesame | Oregon Cabaret Theatre (AN): 2024 |
OSF 2024 (AN): #01, #02 | Ow! |
Peak Brewing | Pull-Lattes |
Quantum (Uni)verse |
Rat Race | A Ray of Sun | Red Crossword |
Rogue Theater Company (AN): 2024 | Rogue Climate (AN): #01 |
schoOLLIfe (OLLI) | Seasoned Rolls (OLLI) | Size Matters | specIAL TRip |
Stemming and Steaming Across (JCLS: #01-09) | Story Time at the Library (OLLI) |
They Haven't a Clue | Tot TNT | Tour de Fat | TrIPArtite Brew |
Under Construction |
Water, Water Somewhere? | Watershed Wandering (AN): #01
Articles, Interviews, Presentations
- RSS feed (10 most recent articles)
- Links below are more about me and crossword solving/constructing generally;
reviews of specific crosswords: NYT: Wed, 11/1/2023 - Fun new Ashland word game (nine letters): Ashland.news Crossword weekly puzzle
leaps into action with -- what else? -- 'Oh, deer'; Ashland.news > Culture > Crossword; AN; 2/2/2024 - 2023's Crossword Constructor Debuts
90 puzzle makers [including Steve] will have their first NYT Crossword published; NYT; 12/11/2023 - The man from #1 Across: Ashlander cranks out crosswords
The Jefferson Exchange interview with Geoffrey Riley; Jefferson Public Radio (JPR); 11/28/2023 - Local crossword constructor goes national video; KOBI5; Maximus Osburn; 11/5/2023
- Questionist: Oregon takes center stage in the crossworld this week; Chris King; 11/5/2023
- Wordplay: Sites of Some Docs Steve Weyer makes his New York Times debut; NYT; Sam Corbin; 11/1/2023
- Ashland amateur crossword puzzle creator’s work scores in the NYT Oregonian; Janet Eastman; 11/1/2023
- A clue to solving crossword puzzles: Have fun, say Oregon experts: Oregonian; Janet Eastman; 3/27/2023
- Rogue Valley crossword aficionado shares puzzles and skills: OLLI and my crossword courses;
The Jefferson Exchange interview with Geoffrey Riley; Jefferson Public Radio (JPR); 12/6/2022 - OLLI Courses, JCLS Presentations; Older articles/interviews; My bio
Crossword Formats
- .pdf: printable puzzle (grid & clues) and solution pages
- web: interactive JavaScript (JS) applet in browser;
'Check' and 'Reveal' commands can help in solving; 'Print' command avail.;
check 'Note' or 'About' for tips about crossword; some sites show ads or don't work with ad blockers - For a better experience, solve on a larger screen, preferably with a physical keyboard.
Although it is possible to use a smaller device, e.g., phone or mini tablet,
seeing clues and entering answers may require more scrolling of the limited puzzle area
and hiding/showing of the on-screen keyboard. - .puz, .jpz: a crossword data file specifies grid layout, clues, solution and meta info (Title, Author, Copyright, Note).
.puz is most common; .jpz is a more open standard with more format options.
a .puz file (and sometimes .jpz) can be opened offline in a solving app,
e.g., Across Lite Mac, Win, iPad; Crosswords: Android, iOS; $; XWord Mac, Win, Lnx - app: like a web app, it includes 'Check', 'Reveal' and 'Print' commands;
in addition to opening locally saved .puz and/or .jpz files, some apps can automatically download crosswords.
An app provides a more consistent user interface, i.e., crossword layout and navigation commands,
compared to different interfaces across multiple web sites. - reviews w/ spoilers: blogs/videos/podcasts for major crosswords discuss theme & clues,
and provide stats and often complete solutions, e.g., crosswordfiend.com
Crossword Sources
- Besides my crosswords listed below, there are many online crossword sites (many free)
- Several aggregator sites offer convenient links for popular crosswords,
e.g., crosswordfiend.com (on right); cruciverb.com; dailycrosswordlinks.com;
PuzzleMe Showcase; Will Johnston's Puzzle Pointers (WJPP); Steve's site list - Several sites (NYT, LAT, Univ.) are detailed below, with these annotations:
- *: limited availability, e.g., 7-30 day crossword archive
- $: subscription required, e.g., NYT
- CS: a web applet page that "Crossword Scraper" browser extension
(Firefox, Chrome) can convert to .pdf, .puz, .jpz or .ipuz - NYT (New York Times): nytimes.com: web (CS), app, .pdf; $;
local libraries may offer NYT digital Games access (Jackson County does not) -- or photocopies;
local newspapers may offer NYT crosswords with a syndication delay, e.g., in Oregonian 5 weeks later - Seattle Times & National Post: web (CS); *7 day archive, 5 week NYT syndication delay
- Steve's puzzles: NYT: Wed, 11/1/2023
- LAT (Los Angeles Times): latimes.com: web (CS); *14 day archive
- syndicated: washingtonpost.com: web (CS); *14 day archive; chicagotribune.com: web
- cruciverb.com: .puz; *30 day archive; free cruciverb.com account required
- Univ. (Universal): andrewsmcmeel.com: web (CS); *11 day archive
- syndicated: seattletimes.com & denverpost.com: web (CS); *11 day archive
- WJPP: .puz; daily & Sun (21 x 21)
- AN: Ashland.news > Culture > Crossword: web (CS), .pdf, .puz (below); weekly
- Common Questions -- Answered
Notes
- My crosswords are listed by title in the menu (at top) -- and by most recent date (below), with other details.
- Crossword formats provided here: web (CS), .pdf, .puz
- Newer (2018-) crosswords are symmetric and themed; 15 x 15 grid size unless otherwise noted.
Some have more than one version, e.g., larger or with later/alternate theme/fill revisions. - Oldest puzzles are free-form: vocabulary-style, or
'free-form+': free-form augmented with additional filled-in words/areas - Construction apps used: CrossFire (2019-); Crossword Compiler (2004-2018);
dictionaries: cruciverb.com $; xwordinfo.com $; spread the word(list); collaborative word list;
clue database: cluer; cruciverb.com $; xwordinfo.com $; crosswordtracker.com;
.pdf generation: puz2pdf, usually with "ink saver" mode (gray squares), 2 pages for 21 x 21;
browser applet: PuzzleMe or Crossword Nexus HTML5 Solver; example comparing both applets
My Crosswords
- RSS feed (10 most recent crosswords)
- specIAL TRip; 05/06/2024: web; .pdf: puzzle, solution; .puz
- AN: Watershed Wandering #01; 05/03/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- AN: Cabaret 2024; 04/26/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- AN: Rogue Climate #01; 04/19/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- AN: Camelot 2024 #02; 04/12/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- AN: Camelot 2024 #01; 04/05/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- AN: Coastal Curmudgeons #01; 03/29/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- AN: Rogue Theater Company 2024; 03/22/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- AN: ExtraORdinary Places #01; 03/15/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- AN: OSF 2024 #02; 03/08/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- La La Land; 03/02/2024
- AN: CrosspOLLInation 2024 Spring; 03/01/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- JCLS: Stemming and Steaming Across #01-09; 03/01/2024;
crossword series for the Jackson County Library's Spring 2024 Reading Program. - AN: OSF 2024 #01; 02/23/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- AN: Cascadia Commotion #01; 02/16/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- AN: Across the Ages and Down the Pages; 02/09/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid; 02/06/2024
- AN: Oh, Deer! #01; 02/02/2024: web, .pdf; .puz
- JCLS: Across the Border #01-#05; 12/2023;
crossword series for the Jackson County Library's Winter 2024 Rogue Reads Program - The Quantum (Uni)verse: To Be or Not to Be in Two Places at Once; 11/20/2023: 21 x 21
- NYT: 'Wed'; 11/01/2023 (nytimes.com); web (CS), app, .pdf; $
- seattletimes.com web web.archive.org; syndicated as 'Wed, 12/6/2023'; no CS, print
- downforacross.com web unofficial; no CS, print
- reviews (w/ spoilers): NYT:WordPlay; crosswordfiend.com; Horace&Frances; nyxcrossword.com;
podcast: Jean & Mike Do The NYT Crossword; cruciverb.com; xwordinfo.com; RexParker;
Reddit: r/crossword; video: Solve with Steve; video: Solve with Me (Goosiverbalist);
video: The Daily Solve (Chris Remo); video: Robert vs the NYTXW - A Ray of Sun; 10/22/2023
- Choking Hazard; 10/22/2023
- JCLS: Fall into Adventure #01-#05; 09/2023;
crossword series for the Jackson County Library's Fall 2023 Reading Program. - JCLS: Level Up #01-#18; 07/2023;
crossword series for the Jackson County Library's Summer 2023 Reading Program - They Haven't a Clue; 05/2023; 15 x 15 and 21 x 21
- Both Sides Now; 04/2023; 21 x 21
- Grid Girder; 04/2023
- Jello Shots; 03/2023
- Ironic Butterfly; 02/2023; 21 x 21
- Eleven; 10/2022
- Rat Race; 09/2022
- Firefox; 08/2022
- Creature Cards; 08/2022
- Size Matters; 08/2022
- Cyclops; 08/2022
- Red Crossword; 08/2022
- Gnus and Views; 03/2022; early draft for Ashland.news
- Bloomin' Like Crazy; 02/2022
- Open Sesame; 10/2021; OLLI Course: P@s$w0rdz
- Crosspassword: based on Password Strength by XKCD: "correct horse battery staple" passphrase;
a humorous combination of "crosswords" and 2-D "passwords,"
with their hidden answers & clues, CAPTCHAs, QR codes, etc.; free-form; 8/2021 - Ow! 01/2021
- Tot TNT; 11/2020
- Seasoned Rolls; 10/2020 with students; OLLI Course: Constructing Crosswords example #4
- Story Time at the Library; 07/2020 with students; OLLI Course: Constructing Crosswords example #3
- A TrIPArtite Brew; 06/2020; beer collab
- OLLI OLLI Oxen Free; 05/2020 with students; OLLI Course: Constructing Crosswords example #2
- Under Construction; 05/2020; OLLI Course: Constructing Crosswords process
- Peak Brewing; 05/2020; brewery trio
- Miss Calculation; 04/2020; math puns
- Candidates; 02/2020
- On the Trail of an Ashland Watershed Creature; 02/2020; Ashland (OR) Hiking Group
- Diet Delights; 02/2020
- Carnivore for Congress; 02/2020
- Not Stroganoff. Try Again; 02/2020; OLLI Course: P@s$w0rdz
- schoOLLIfe; 11/2019; OLLI Course: Constructing Crosswords example #1
- Hoppy Grand Opening; 06/2018; Single Hill Brewing Co. (SHBC), craft brewery & taproom in Yakima, WA;
17 x 17; many connections between beer and crosswords - Crucigramitas #1-4; 05/2018; puzzles, solutions; La Casa Hogar; Spanish & English; 5 x 5
- Newton: 1993-1998 (memories), 1998- (lives on); 03/2018; Newton Messagepad
- CROSSWORDS and YOU OLLI course: .pdf: puz, sol; .puz; free-form; 18 x 19 [far right]
-
Crossword Mug (template): .pdf; grid only; 29 x 11; [right]
-- if you don't have a mug, or to avoid writing on/erasing yours;
crosswordmug.com: download clues and solutions for ~30 puzzles - Map Your Neighborhood (MYN); 08/2018: Ashland (OR) CERT (Community Emergency Response Team); free-form; 19 x 19;
published in CERT Newsletter; MYN program - CERT: #1; 2015 (preparedness); free-form; 27 x 27
- Internet Connection; 2015; Malware; 2015; Browsing; 2015;
OLLI Course: Be Safer on the Internet; free-form - Hikes & Gear; 2015: web; .pdf: grid&clues, sol; .puz;
Lightweight Backpackers Interest Group (BIG); free-form - Water, Water Somewhere? 04/2015: web; .pdf: grid&clues, sol; .puz;
Ashland (OR) Garden Club (AGC); graywater; free-form+ - A Winning Combo; 2013; draft mashup / time capsule for the 100th-anniversary of the Crossword;
Wynne's (title pun!) diamond-shaped original (1913 words in center), includes notes for modern solvers;
4 (detached) corner puzzles describe the original puzzle (who, where, why, when, what),
but use contemporary words/clues - Enneagram Crucigram; 01/01/2013; Imagine the form of the Enneagram projected onto a gridded
crossword space: an "Enneagram Crucigram" (crossword in Spanish is "crucigrama").
The result is a (roughly) circular, mostly symmetric crossword,
with 9 Enneagram vertex points (gray squares), clockwise from top: 9, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8?
Theme: a typical name for each Enneagram type begins/ends at (or near) its point;
a corresponding bold '#' clue indicates its starting location.
Other words, some from psychology and philosophy, fill out the structure. free-form+; 19 x 19;
published in International Enneagram Association (IEA) Nine Points Magazine - An OLLI Olio: Ooh La La; 11/2011; free-form; published in OLLI LINK newsletter
- Tour de Fat; 09/04/2010; Labor Day bicycle parade;
Steve and daughter Kristina created a custom
crossword costume -- divided into grid & clues.
Other riders would stop us in order to fill in an answer
with felt-tip marker; warning: more difficult for those
unfamiliar with New Belgium beers and
Ft. Collins area; free-form+; 19 x 19 - CrozzWord samples; 2004; 10 x 10; free-form+; created for CrozzWord app
- 1. Phones: .pdf (puz, sol); .puz
- 2. Cell Networks: .pdf (puz, sol); .puz
- 3. Caffeine: .pdf (puz, sol); .puz
- 4. First: .pdf (puz, sol); .puz
- 5. Handheld History: .pdf (puz, sol); .puz
- Pull-Lattes; 2004; Pilates; free-form+
- CMC; 2004; Chemistry, Manufacturing & Controls -- for Pharmaceuticals; free-form+; 25 x 25