Solve this puzzle in ink: Luc’s tattoo

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One of my favorite bars, Backbar, is home to many of my favorite bartenders. I don’t even want to know how many hours I have spent sitting at the bar, solving puzzles and drinking drinks. My preferred seat is called “Lena’s office” and they even put up a cork board for me to display my coaster doodles, cartoons, and really important business strategies.

A few months ago Brayden and I were there having a drink, and Brayden noticed that our bartender, Luc, had an empty crossword grid tattooed on his forearm. “WHAT?!” I said, not believing that I could have missed something like this for so long. Sure enough, Luc showed me his 78-word grid tat, saying that it was just some random NYT– there was no real significance behind it and that he hadn’t solved the puzzle; I, for one, like an anti-climactic tattoo story. Anyway, I told him I’d make an entirely new crossword using the grid and maybe he thought I was drunk and full of shit BUT I DID IT.

It’s a themeless, but I made an effort to include as many bar-related things as I could. Many thanks to Luc for being a rad dude, and thanks to all y’all for solving.

L’il High Nine #4

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Solution to LHF #15

A L’il High Nine? Don’t worry, it’s not Sunday. You didn’t miss your entire weekend. There is still time to get rowdy.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to post a L’il High Nine we received from Paolo Pasco many weeks ago, since today his name is on the top of BuzzFeed’s debut Friday Freestyle! Go solve the puzzle, and then maybe go check out what we had to say about it on the new Indie/BuzzFeed puzzle blogging site I’m co-…blogging: New Grids on the Block.

I will also take this opportunity to make sure that everyone who submitted a LH5/9 has not been forgotten. We’ve been quite busy working out the details of our new blogventure, so the L’il High project will be on hiatus for a bit. But, please, don’t let that stop you from pounding out some L’il guys and sending them our way!

L’il High Five #15

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Solution to LH5 #14

First, let me introduce this fantastic puzzle from Numinous, a name I recognized from the Rex Parker blog comments. Visually arresting and Just Plain Fun, this LH5-ish bucks trends, kicks ass, and takes names.

Next, not only did we experience a period of torpidity (big “torpid” fan here), but I will be away until 10/6. If I can figure out how to, like, schedule a post I will be sure to put up a great Sunday 9×9 we recently received.

Last, thank you to all who have submitted L’il High Fives n’ Nines– your puzzles are in good hands and will be posted in the upcoming weeks. Thank you for participating in this Fête des Mots Croisés! APRÈS NOUS LE DÉLUGE!

L’il High Five #14

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Solution to LH5 #14

What better a way to close that pesky first day of the workweek than with Jon O’Rourke’s second L’il High Five! Sure, I made a good cop/bad cop reference in the submission guidelines, but we aren’t *really* the Puzzle Police so we welcome repeat offenders. Encourage them, even. That’s right, so get down with your bad selves and make another.

L’il high nine #3

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Solution to LH5 #13

I used to have real mixed feelings about Twitter– sometimes Tweeting petulantly about how stupid and self-serving and useless it is while, well, using it. But since starting to roll with the Crossword Crowd, it mostly makes me feel warm and sometimes fuzzy. The media has allowed me to be social with so many fun, funny, smart and sweet people that I can’t stay mad at it.

Tony Zito, today’s constructor, is an example of someone who I’m very glad to have met on Twitter. When he reached out with an interest in constructing, I happily gave encouragement and information and, in return, received some very awesome puzzles right out of the gate. I hope you enjoy his Sunday offering as much as I did!  And maybe in the future we’ll see another great indie puzzle blog pop up (hint-hint, Tony).

l’il high five #13

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Solution to LH5 #12

…And we’re back! Consider the last two days to be the calm before this microburst of a puzzle storm from Andy Kravis. To quote Rex Sharper’s excellent Satuday write-up, this LH5 definitely “produce[s] nice feelings in the  pleasure centers of the human brain.” I’d say “please enjoy this puzzle” but it’s dumb to plead for things that are unavoidable.

l’il high five #12

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Solution to LH5 #11

Good evening. Yup, It is a good evening because you are here solving Erin Milligan-Milburn’s LH5! Mere hours after I sent a few pokes and nudges her way on Twitter, I was sent this wonderful puzzle! Lucky me, and lucky you.

Erin has also made a BIG puzzle and here is a link to her construction debut on Erik Agard’s site, GLUTTON FOR PUN. And now your dinner plans are all set: appetizer = LH5, main course = BH15.

l’il high five #11

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Solution to LH5 #10

I’m going to take a L’il moment here to say what a pleasure it is to be working with Michael on all things puzzle related. His enthusiasm? Boundless. His expectations? High. His puzzles? Rad. Please do enjoy this one, and give the man a high five. Literally. Send us L’il High Fives.

l’il high five #10

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Solution to LH9 #2

With all the submissions pouring in, I forgot I had a L’il High Five of my own kicking around! I can’t remember if this is my only LH5 to use black squares, but they there are– 6 of them. Enjoy filling in the rest of the squares!

Although the puzzle is titled #8, don’t be fooled! It was just #8 at the time and I am lazy.

Also of great importance, Michael started putting the apostrophe in “L’il” and that’s probably how it should have been all along. Lih-uhl.

l’il high nine #2

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Solution to LH5 #9

I’m sure everybody has favorite constructors, and I’m no exception. Wait, actually, just sitting here thinking about it, it’s impossible for me to pick a single favorite constructor. Everyone’s puzzles have their own personalities and recognizable voices, and the more you do a particular constructor’s puzzles, this can actually help you out while solving. For instance, if it looks like your answer is turning out to be BROKEN CONDOM and you’re doing a Peter Broda puzzle, you’re probably right. That answer was featured in the very first one of Peter’s puzzles that I did. Obviously I started doing them all the time. Wanna try one out? Well you’re in luck because Peter just posted a fresh themeless yesterday!

After that, I highly recommend going back in the archives. You’ll also find Vowelless puzzles in there, which I think are super fun.

Guys, it makes me so happy when I get little puzzles in the e-box! Don’t you want me to be happy? You know what to do!