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Author Archives: Sam Donaldson
The 2015 Orca Awards – Best Gimmick Crossword
Time for today’s installment of the Orcas, our annual “awards show” saluting some of the best crosswords from 2015. Today features the Orca for Best Gimmick Crossword. We’re getting close to the big finale on Saturday when the coveted Orca … Continue reading
Posted in Orca Awards
Tagged Brendan Emmett Quigley, David Steinberg, Erik Agard, Jeff Chen, Patrick Berry
2 Comments
The 2015 Orca Awards – Best Meta/Contest Crossword
Welcome back to the Orcas, our annual recap honoring outstanding achievement in crossword construction. Today we present the Orca for Best Meta/Contest Crossword, the fifth of nine awards given out this year. To recap the schedule for the week: • … Continue reading
The 2015 Orca Awards – Best Freestyle and Best Tournament Crossword
It’s a beautiful day for the Orcas—let’s give two! Today we double the fun with awards for themeless and tournament puzzles. It’s all part of our week-long ceremony honoring some of the best puzzles from 2015. To recap where we … Continue reading
Posted in Orca Awards
Tagged Doug Peterson, Erik Agard, Frank Longo, Ian Livengood, Joon Pahk, Natan Last, Patrick Berry, Tracy Bennett, Trip Payne
2 Comments
The 2015 Orca Awards – Best Sunday-Sized Crossword
The Orcas continue today with the award for Best Sunday-Sized Crossword, the top honor for crosswords 21×21 and larger. Remember that the Orcas will continue all week according to this schedule: • Sunday, February 28: Best Easy Crossword (won by … Continue reading
Posted in Orca Awards
Tagged Bruce Haight, Jeremy Newton, Merl Reagle, Patrick Berry, Tom McCoy
3 Comments
The 2015 Orca Awards – Best Easy Crossword
Today marks the start of the fifth annual Orca Awards, our week-long ceremony cum love-fest honoring outstanding achievement in crossword construction. For the next several days we will look back and toast some of the best puzzles from 2015. #OrcasSoBlackAndWhite … Continue reading
Posted in Orca Awards
Tagged Dan Bischoff, Gary Cee, Jeff Chen, Lynn Lempel, Patrick Berry
3 Comments
The 2014 Orca Awards – Best Crossword
Orcas Week now concludes (finally!) with the coveted award for Best Crossword. Before we get to the big honor, thanks to Amy for giving me permission to run with this idea. It’s both fun and inspirational to take a closer … Continue reading
Posted in Orca Awards
Tagged Andrew Reynolds, Ben Tausig, Francis Heaney, Matt Gaffney, Pete Muller, Peter Broda, Tom McCoy
2 Comments
The 2014 Orca Awards – Individual Honors
On this, the penultimate day of Orcas Week, we present the Bob Klahn Award for Most Outstanding Clue and the Margaret Farrar Constructor of the Year Award. Tomorrow, of course, is the final Orca for Best Crossword. Here’s how Orcas … Continue reading
The 2014 Orca Awards – Best Gimmick Crossword
Welcome back! It’s now Day Five of Orcas Week, our annual celebration of exceptional crosswords from 2014. Today we present the award for Best Gimmick Crossword, a puzzle that employs a unique twist or novel concept. After today there are … Continue reading
Posted in Orca Awards
Tagged Andrew Reynolds, Ben Tausig, Brendan Emmett Quigley, Caleb Madison, Matt Jones, Trip Payne
1 Comment
The 2014 Orca Awards – Best Meta/Contest Crossword
It’s Hump(back) Day of Orcas Week, our look back at some exceptional crosswords from 2014. Today we honor the “meta” or “contest” crossword, the “puzzle within a puzzle” that has become very popular in the past few years. Remember that … Continue reading
The 2014 Orca Awards – Best Freestyle Crossword
Welcome back to Orcas Week, the event that makes Shark Week look like Shark Weak. Our annual awards ceremony celebrating outstanding achievement in crossword construction continues now with Best Freestyle Crossword, the award for the most outstanding themeless puzzle from … Continue reading
Posted in Orca Awards
Tagged Josh Knapp, Patrick Berry, Peter Wentz, Trip Payne
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