Puzzle Notes

Dear friends,

*** Today is AVCX Classic's annual appeal to solvers for tips, should you wish to give one. We ask just once each year. The annual tip campaign does a whole lot for our operation. Any amount is fabulous, and we appreciate your words just as much as the money. The tip jar is here. Thank you!***

Thanks, Ben (and double thanks to all our subscribers) -- now on to the puzzle! This week's offering is "Synced Up" by Chandi Deitmer, and it's a sort of "bonus track" to New Grids on the Block, a recently published book of '90s-themed crosswords that I edited -- and which is still available as a last-minute gift for any puzzle-loving '90s kid if you select the delivery method of "going to a store and buying it in person."

Chandi considers herself a pure kid of the '90s; she reports that the likely pinnacle of her life was coming home after 3rd grade and eating tortilla chips (in hummus, ideally) while watching "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" She is proud to have a growing collection of scrunchies and hairclips.

You'll find that she has put her personal experience to the best possible use by packing this crossword with '90s goodness ... and for full immersion, you can, optionally, solve it while listening to my own all-'90s Spotify playlist. Enjoy the solve, and we'll see you next week with a Sunday-size stunner by Brandon Koppy!

Cheers --

-- Francis and the expanded AVCX crew

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