xwordswithbabka

Hello, I hope you are well! How about a themeless? This one was meant to be submitted somewhere, until I realized that at 74 words it was over the word limit. Well, here it is anyway. Thanks to Rose (who was recently on Jeopardy!) for testing. [ .puz ] [ Direct Crosshare link ]

I had so much fun at ACPT this last weekend, and it's so good to see all the crossword people! I also am glad to say that Babka was able to attend as well. I hope you were able to say hi, but if not it's okay, it is such a big event! But also my favorite weekend. Sadly I didn't do as well as I wanted competition-wise, but it was still a great time. I hope I will see you there next year! I thought of this extremely stupid theme at some point during the weekend. It is lightly themed around a certain television show, but you don't need to know anything about it to solve (other than that it exists). Please try to enjoy! Thanks Norah for the test. [ .puz ] [ Direct Crosshare link ]

Hello, I hope you are well! If you are going to the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament this weekend, I hope to see you there! I am planning to bring a few copies of the following crossword, as well as the cat pictured above. Please say hi! Thanks Alex for testing! Are you subscribed to his Patreon and getting acrostics and other puzzles? If not, what's wrong!!! [ .puz ] [ Direct Crosshare link ]

Why hello! I am sorry that it has taken so long to put a new puzzle online. Every day this year has been a month! But still I apologize, especially because I am making it my goal again to write more crosswords. This one here took me forever to finish! How would you feel about an asymmetrical grid and an asinine theme that's only in the clues and depends on specific knowledge? What's that? ....Well here it is anyway! This one was not test solved. Try to enjoy, and I have more planned soon! [ .puz ] [ Direct Crosshare link ]

Hello, and happy new year! 2025 has been, to put it as understatedly as I can, "a challenge." A few highs and some incredible lows. However, as always, I am trying, and hope to continue doing so. Before 2025 ends I want to put this puzzle out there. This was rejected from a venue recently; privately I have been calling it "my manifesto." But I don't want to bring it into 2026 with me! Therefore it's here now. Below the puzzle is a short bit of text I wrote meant to explain my choices. Read it, or don't! Either way, if you solve the puzzle, I hope you enjoy it. Be safe! Take care! Keep your heart open!! [ .puz ] [ Direct Crosshare link ] Some words: I really do see a lot of similarities when constructing a crossword and writing a song. A constructor and a songwriter are both looking for in-the-language words and phrases to build around; they also have the ability to make new ones. The choice of words can affect the overall mood. They are lo...

I just got back from the great city of Chicago where I met many, many crossword friends and won 2nd in the Midwest Crossword Tournament ! The puzzles were fun, the competition was great, the people are amazing! Thank you so much to the organizers, constructors, volunteers, and basically everyone there. Good things are possible!! Anyway - this is a Chicago-themed midi that I brought to the tournament, and I hope you enjoy! [ .puz ] [ Direct Crosshare link ]