"City Blocks" - September 4, 2020

[Joe Ross]

[ReB]

With so much time lounging on the beach this weekend, I came up with a number cipher based on this week's states, where each letter stands for a number from 0-9:

• MD
  ID
  AK
  MA
  IN
  +FL
  USA

There are no leading zeros, and to hopefully at least eliminate alternative solutions involving number/letter transpositions, it's also true that...

• AK
  +MS
  IL

Not sure if there is more than one possible answer, but if so I do have other sums at hand

**SPOILER ALERT: Solution posted on page 19, posts #363 & 366**

[eagle1279]

So who thinks they woulda gotten it without 68A? Not I!

[Bird Lives]

Safely ashore,
Minor delay,
Please start to pour,
Stone IPA.
Easy meta,
One has to say,
Makes for a better...
Happy Labor Day!

This meter sounds familiar to me and perhaps other Muggles of a certain age. So . . .

The meta’s solved,
He can begin
To smoothify
His cheeks and chin.

[hcbirker]

So who thinks they woulda gotten it without 68A? Not I!

I think the title would have been enough, in my opinion.

[TPS]

So who thinks they woulda gotten it without 68A? Not I!

I am going to assume I would have since I had found BALTIMORE, ANCHORAGE, AND FORT WAYNE before I even got to 68A. But I was stuck for a minute because in my mind I was thinking FORT WORTH and not FORT WAYNE - so I had a “T” in there for a few minutes which was funny because my Dad was born in FORT WAYNE so I definitely knew it was in Indiana.

[EVJ]

So who thinks they woulda gotten it without 68A? Not I!

I definitely needed the clue. Even with it it took me awhile to find the “city blocks”.

[KscX]

So who thinks they woulda gotten it without 68A? Not I!

I think the title would have been enough, in my opinion.

Also could have done without the number of letters required for the city. It really defined the task. I have a friend who guessed it before working the puzzle.

[Nlobb]

I guessed it before working the puzzle. But that doesn't really count as a solve. I had trouble because I am an old fashioned pencil and paper gal but had no printer so I had to do it on my phone which did not work for me. I need to be able to write on the finished puzzle and circle things...

[DBMiller]

[ PLACEHOLDER FOR OFFICIAL WSJ SOLUTION, DUE 4 PM EDT, MONDAY, DUE TO HOLIDAY ]


20200904 WSJCC City Blocks jr solution.gif

Joe, check your 46A/39D - You've got a U where there should be an A

[pddigi]

I don't think 68A was necessary for the solution; in fact, I think it made it too easy. I found Fort Wayne first (after stumbling across the letters composing "Budapest" in the upper right corner, although not in proper order, leading me to waste a few minutes in that rabbit hole), and figured the state names would be the answer. Then it was Baltimore, and from there, it was mostly a back-solve to get to Miami.

I was kind of hoping for "Omaha", as a friend of my son's (a Hillsdale grad who works for Senator Sasse) is a proud native of Omaha. Fort Wayne dashed that hope rather quickly!

PS: As this is Labor Day, is it premature to be discussing the solution? I thought that the WSJ wouldn't produce a new crossword until Tuesday.

[Bob cruise director]

Our final record with Rex is 218

Good job everyone

[Kas]

Hi, gang! I've been off the map, mateys...mostly keeping a low profile with all the craziness...but hello, and I'll try to be more active...and yes, I'm on shore this week. Helllooooo tiki bar! -Kas

[Joe Ross]

PS: As this is Labor Day, is it premature to be discussing the solution? I thought that the WSJ wouldn't produce a new crossword until Tuesday.

No. The deadline remained Sunday, midnight EDT.

From the Crossword Contest Official Rules: "Email your answer to the Weekly Question to crosswordcontest@wsj.com by midnight New York City time on the Sunday following the publication of the Friday Puzzle."

The answer will be published online, along with Tuesday's crossword puzzle, today, at 4 PM EDT.

[Bob cruise director]

Hi, gang! I've been off the map, mateys...mostly keeping a low profile with all the craziness...but hello, and I'll try to be more active...and yes, I'm on shore this week. Helllooooo tiki bar! -Kas

Kas
Just for you, I will include you in the count so the record has gone up to 219

Welcome back. We have missed you

[Tripod]

First time on shore seems like a great way to wind up summer.

[boharr]

First time on shore seems like a great way to wind up summer.

Congrats!

[cbarbee002]

Wow, the Pappy!

[cbarbee002]

On the beach - I think it will be quite crowded!

Buffalo Trace neat, please (if you can find it)!

Speaking of Buffalo Trace, here in Ohio it is VERY hard to find. Most stores get one case maybe once a month. Then a year ago I went up near Winnipeg for my brother in law’s 50th birthday. The liquor store in Steinbach Manitoba (which didn’t exist when I lived there 16 years ago because it was a dry town), had a large shelf full of it as well as little airline bottles of it. What gives?

All of the Buffalo Trace distillery bourbons are difficult to find (Buffalo Trace, Blantons, Rare Eagle, Michters). Fortunately (or unfortunately), in PA the state owns all of the liquor stores (State stores we call them), which makes the Commonwealth of PA the largest purchaser of wine and liquor in the US. the downside is that, well, it's state run. The upside is that they get ample allocations of lots of usually hard-to-find wines and spirits. When the pandemic hit, I had to get several bottles of each of the brands mentioned above because, hey, the state stores were going to close down and who knew when they would reopen?

You are not the only one who stocked up!

Wow, got the Pappy! I have another suggestion, also a Buffalo Trace product - - Stagg Jr.

[TPS]

Wow, got the Pappy! I have another suggestion, also a Buffalo Trace product - - Stagg Jr.
[/quote]

I am a big fan of Pappy and Buffalo Trace. Currently, I am having a love affair with a Utah distillery’s Double Rye - High West. I first had it in the best Manhattan I’ve ever had and then tried it in my own OF but it’s also fantastic neat.