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2020, obviously a very strange year. One of the stranger subplots was that I got a little too into ZZ Top this year. Who the hell saw that coming? I thought they were Just Fine for years, but a penny dropped and I decided to give them a serious reconsideration. And no, the reason for this rediscovery has nothing to do with the fact that I’ve been growing a Billy Gibbons-esque length beard since Long Before the pandemic began. Anyway, for the superfans of yours truly who were expecting a Themeless today, it’s a slight detour today. Bear with me.
Quick reminder, the year-end drive is still chugging along. Long story short, this site is always going to be free. All I ask is if the crosswords’ve helped you through the, erm, challenging year that was 2020, a small tip goes a long way to keep things running smoothly. Strictly voluntary, too. PayPal or Venmo (@TheBEQ) preferred. Two bonus 21xs are yours to all who can chip in. Thanks again to all who have been able to contribute. If you haven’t got your bonus puzzles yet, let me know. Long form appeal is here.
Looking for more puzzles? The Hub Crossword (Sunday puzzles by me and Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon) and Marching Bands year six have begun. So if that To Do list needs even more puzzles, you know what to do.
Share the puzzle. New one on Thursday.
I don’t get it. 🙁
Think holiday games.
(It took me a moment too, but my neighbors invited me to take a look – safely distanced of course – at their menorah last night, so it wasn’t too hard to figure out.)
Thank you! Of course now that I posted a comment, my grid cleared. But I have learned something today!
Me, too!
pretty tough puzzle for non-jews
otherwise not beq standard monday level
Very nice! Got puzzle but no understanding until I looked up the one word I didn’t know, 38A.
Knowing BEQ I was sort of expecting a John le Carre tribute puzzle, but this was a pleasant surprise, even as a shiksa.
And lapsed Jews
Sweet puzzle, Brendan — and I love the title!
It took me awhile to get the theme but I finally did. Very clever!
Can one of you geniuses above explain the theme for idiots like me?
Well, that’s a new spin on a Monday puzzle!
Worth its weight in Gelt – but 21 across isn’t part of Thai cuisine, unless the restaurants you frequent are way more pan-Asian than mine.
I did not get the theme until I gave up and did a reveal, but I really should have and I would have finished if I had. Nice one!
SPOILERS: Nun, gimel, hey, and shin are the four sides of a dreidel, the sides of which mean “nothing” “all” “half” and “put in” respectively.