Pun of a Kind

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Cubs pretty much have the wild card locked - by the time I see you in October, their season might be over (eep!) or they might be making a run. Wish us luck! --- 1.  Puzzle #151 answer: CIAO Correct entries:  72 Shortest explanation: Remove "-YA" from each appropriate word in each themer, giving you a new word. Find an alternate for each word in the grid. The initial letters of the alternates spell CIAO , the answer to the meta! --- 2. The verdict is that this is a very solid Level 3  - thanks to Jangler, Kay, and Peter for test-solving and helpful comments! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is what I hope you don't have to do on when solving it.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Anthony Rizzo will retire as a Cub today at Wrigley Field, and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone more universally beloved within our franchise. What an honor for him! Today concludes the 4th annual Summer of Solves . Many thanks to all who participated! I appreciate all of you so much. --- 1.  Puzzle #150 answer:  CLASS CLOWN Correct entries: 89  - can't get much more Level 1 than that! Shortest explanation: The four silly themers have words that rhyme with, well, CLASS CLOWN , about as Level 1 of a meta as you could get. I still  had confirmation with STALE (clued as "word before 'mates'," which also satisfies CLASS) and DRIVE ("word after 'rodeo'," which also satisfies CLOWN). Note also the CL- Roman numeral connection for puzzle 150! --- 2.  It can always be a tough level to construct, but this is a legitimate Level 2 to close out the season. I'll see you every other week until winter, in which I hope inspi...

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! After all the ups and downs this season, it's nice that the Cubs are still playing relevant baseball in September. We'd play the Padres if the season ended today in a wild card matchup at Wrigley. Wish us luck! --- 1.  Puzzle #149 answer:  2025 Correct entries:  55 - that's a  Level 3.5/4  indeed! Shortest explanation: Take the nine entries with perfect squares 1 to 81. Square root these numbers, and index the entries' letters (so first letter from the clue with a "1," second letter from the clue with a "4," and so forth). You'll spell out FORTY-FIVE, which is not  a number less than 100, so per the title, square that to get 2025 , our current year and the apropos answer to the meta! --- 2. This was meant to be the last puzzle of the Summer of Solves, but I do have a bonus one next week before we go every other week until winter. This one is a Level 1  (really). Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G...