Grid: untimed; Meta: 15 minutes
Paul Colter’s contest, “What’s Your Bag?” — Conrad’s writeup
This month we’re asked, What apt place to solve this crossword is hinted at by this puzzle? There were six long theme entries, each a portmanteau:
- BREASTAURANT: Establishment like Hooters
- PROMPOSAL: Often-ostentatious invitation to a spring formal
- BRIDEZILLA: Freakishly fussy fiancée
- CREAMSICLE: Orange-and-vanilla frozen treat
- APPLETINI: Fruity green cocktail
- MOCKUMENTARY: “Best in Show,” for example
FB Contest – 02.04.2026
The fully spelled out words comprising each portmanteau contained addition letters that mapped to another grid entry. Here they are, in grid order:
- 3d: BREAK: Time off -> BREAST (REST)AURAUNT
- 17a: OLDMAN: Dad -> CREAM (POP)SICLE
- 34a: ACE: Expert -> PROM (PRO)POSAL
- 42a: TITAN: Towering figure in a certain field ->BRIDE (GOD)ZILLA
- 56a: ENT: “Say ‘Ah'” sayer, for short -> MOCK (DOC)UMENTARY
- 64a: LAGO: Spanish body of water ->APPLE (MAR)TINI
The first letter of each mapped entry spell our contest solution BOATEL (Boat hotel). I loved this meta. Portmanteau is the French word for luggage, which connects the title. And TIL that Lewis Carrol coined the current meaning in Through the Looking-Glass. Fun! Solvers: Please share your thoughts.