NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 24, 2023): U.S. City Demonyms

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 24, 2023): U.S. City Demonyms

Q: Name a major U.S. city in two words. Change the first letter of the first word and the next-to-last letter of the second word. Then rearrange all the letters to name the people who live in this city. What city is it?

The difference is 18.

Edit: The letters you remove are Sc (Scandium, element 21) and you replace them with Li (Lithium, element 3). The difference is 18.

A: SAN FRANCISCO --> CALIFORNIANS

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 17, 2023): Vacation Places

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 17, 2023): Vacation Places

Q: Name a place where many people go for vacation (3,10). Change one of the vowels sounds from a long A to a long E, and the result phonetically will be one reason to visit this place. What place is it?

You can drop the first word and the puzzle still works.

Edit: Seychelles --> See Shells.

A: THE SEYCHELLES --> THE SEASHELLS

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 10, 2023): Creatures of the World

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 10, 2023): Creatures of the World

Q: Name a creature that has a world capital in its name. Replace the capital with another creature and you'll get another world capital. What is it?

I spent too long trying to end up on DODOMA (Tanzania). I just had to think a little more.

Edit: I did get sidetracked thinking "creature" was deliberately chosen to include things like unicorns, fairies, yetis, elves, leprechauns, werewolves, king kong, etc. Once I narrowed my focus, I was able to think of a little creature.

A: MOSQUITO --> MOSCOW

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 3, 2023): Strumming on the Old Banjo

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 3, 2023): Strumming on the Old Banjo

Q: Name certain musical instruments (plural). The first, third, fourth, and fifth letters spell something that holds the things named by the last five letters. What instruments are these?

I'm pretty sure I saw this on an episode of Star Trek.

Edit: In the original series, Dr. McCoy was known as "Bones". There was also an episode set at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona. In the Next Generation, Cmdr. Riker was occasionally seen playing the trombone.

A: TROMBONES --> TOMB, BONES