Mandolin Crossword Puzzle

[Mandolin Cafe]

Take the Hidden Mandolin Players crossword challenge!

Created by yours truly with inspiration, encouragement and editing by fellow crossword fanatic, Joe. K. Walsh.

Instructions, because there will be folks with varying degrees of experience with these:

This puzzle will make the most sense to U.S. based players. Hadn't considered other locations in my answers and clues until I was done. In case I decide to do another I'll pay attention to that.

Within the puzzle is repeated a common hidden theme four times, and those clues are denoted with an asterisk ( * ). Many crossword puzzle creators use a theme and "hide" common words, phrases or names inside of longer strings as part of the experience. No surprise, this one contains four embedded, very well known mandolin players hidden inside of longer strings or letters and phrases.

By example, if the puzzle had a mandolin builders theme and a clue stated "well known wine growing region near San Francisco," the answer would be: NAPAVALLEY, which contains PAVA. Sometimes the answer might end or start a string, so if the subject matter was the names of mandolin players and the clue was "An African coastal country known for pristine beaches" an answer could be SIERRALEONE, which of course contains SIERRA. OK, you get it.

But wait, there's more! Along with the hidden answers are plenty of other references only mandolin players will get. You've been warned. No groaning... aloud or allowed.

Puzzle attached below as PDF. I'll post the full answers this time tomorrow.

[Charles E.]

Thanks Scott, I have already done the one in our local paper and am working on the Washington Post crossword now. Looking forward to see what you and Joe have come up with.

[Mandolin Cafe]

Also, we'll appreciate it if no one posts answers until we upload those tomorrow. Thanks.

Now you know the answer to what I've been doing with some extra time besides working an awful lot more which seems to have come with this experience. If you're looking for something to suck down and waste a lot of time, you're looking at it.

[sunburst]

Got 'em. Yep, time wasted, back to work...

[Charles E.]

Did it after lunch, very fun, thanks again.

[Louise NM]

Thanks, that was fun.

[Mandolin Cafe]

The answers. Sorry not more professional with the answers typed out looking professional. Next on the to-do list should one of these occur again.

[eightmoremiles]

Scott Many thanks for the x-word effort. Rarely do two of my obsessions-mando and crossword puzzles-become united into one such pleasurable exercise. In the name of Will Shortz I plead for another! I saw many of my old friends: adit, enure, tabor, esso. A Tip of the Hatlo Hat!

[JimKo]

Scott, Sent this onto my daughter who is a big crossword fan. She really like it and says thanks.

[Mandolin Cafe]

Scott Many thanks for the x-word effort. Rarely do two of my obsessions-mando and crossword puzzles-become united into one such pleasurable exercise. In the name of Will Shortz I plead for another! I saw many of my old friends: adit, enure, tabor, esso. A Tip of the Hatlo Hat!

Don't forget Edo and Ono!

[Joe Bartl]

First crossword I've done in decades. Don't think this will start a habit, but it was lots of fun. Thanks.

[Charles E.]

I was thinking about clue 10 down and this is what comes up if you search "disco banjo" on you tube...
You have been warned

[mandolinfox]

"And ULEE.. Know why? The vowels." (as said by Ted Mosby to Will Shortz when Will guested on How I Met Your Mother). Thanks Scott. I really enjoyed this.

[DHopkins]

Mike, it looks like sheltering in place is gettin' to ya.

[Paul Statman]

Now that was fun. Thanks, Scott and Joe.

BTW: Seth Rogen

[journeybear]

This slipped under my notice last year, but NewsFetcher's reminder caught my eye this year. And I finally remembered to stop by the library and print it (I have no printer) yesterday. Spent an enjoyable several minutes with it, first crossword puzzle I've done in years. Used to be a big fan. So some of the words I knew right off. But it being mandolin-themed was an extra fun aspect, for sure.

I had a bit of a chuckle over the clue for 5 down that says: "Gov. agency that makes you empty your pockets," three letters. After I'd solved it, I thought it would have been amusing if the answer had been, "IRS."

[Charles E.]

When can we look forward to another one?

[Mandolin Cafe]

Whilst working this morning's New York Times Sunday crossword I was reminded of this one, for those that missed it a few years ago. Truly a pandemic project as a mental break from not leaving the house for far too long.

[Larry Simonson]

Thanks Scot, nice job. I got it all except toots and shel and associated down clues. That you accomplished getting Dawg into it is impressive. Tuesday NYT are about my level.