Q: Take the phrase EASTERN TIME. Change one letter and rearrange the result to name a place that observes Eastern Time.Could it be in the 410 area code?
Edit: It took 410 days to build the Empire State Building
A: EMPIRE STATE (New York)
Sunday, September 21, 2025
NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 21, 2025): ET Phone Home
NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 21, 2025): ET Phone Home
Edit: It took 410 days to build the Empire State Building
Edit: It took 410 days to build the Empire State Building
107 comments:
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I have an answer that works, but "place" is sufficiently ambiguous that I'm not certain. Tough to clue. Perhaps there's more than one answer....
ReplyDeleteDr. K - I have an ambiguous answer, too. I wonder if we have the same idea
DeleteCurtis, my "ambiguous" answer hits close to home. I'm now sure it's not the intended answer, but it does satisfy the puzzle's criteria. The intended answer, which I later got, used to hit close to home.
DeleteIn the inimitable words of Emily Litella, "Never mind."
DeleteI was mistaken. Mea culpa.
I don't know if ambiguity is going to be the problem this week. I would think it's easy to get thrown off by a false assumption.
ReplyDeleteI've just realized that ambiguity is very relevant! But it will not interfere with solving, at all.
DeleteI wonder if the ambiguity I have in mind is what anyone else mentioning ambiguity here has in mind.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhen I tried to check my initial effort with pen and paper I found an error - and now I have several possible places. Hmmmm.
DeleteDramatic irony
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteBlaine, I didn't think I was giving TMI. I was trying to think outside the box
DeleteNever, ever, think outside the box.
DeletePart of my answer is connected with last week's puzzle.
ReplyDeleteI thought of suggesting that it "harks back" to last week, but feared that might be TMI.
DeleteMore than 1300 correct entries last week
ReplyDeleteI have an unsatisfying answer that doesn't involve changing a letter.
ReplyDeleteBut it's kind of cute?
DeleteI have photographs of myself, standing in that location
DeleteOh, man, I understand Blaine's clue!
ReplyDeleteFor me, that's a record, getting it this fast.
At first, having an answer that worked (yes, a valid solution but one that turned out to be incorrect), I thought Blaine's clue was tmi. Now, having the correct answer, I am back in the usual position of not understanding it. Oh well...
DeleteFor purely personal reasons that should not be tmi, I associate this place with the Warren Commission Report.
Rearrange the even letters of the place. You get something to wear.
ReplyDeletePlus the letter that's changed in "Eastern Time"?
DeleteWith Dr. K's additional letter, this clue works for my answer.
DeleteMine too.
DeleteDitto
DeleteLOL! Thanks for this effort. I apologize for misleading you. Dumb me, I meant ODD: Rearrange the odd letters of the place. You get something to wear.
Delete"In Vegas, I got into a long argument with the man at the roulette wheel over what I considered to be an odd number."
Delete--Steven Wright
EVEN, ODD, what's the difference anyway?
DeleteI am sure I have the answer, but heading out to go camping again in Eastern Oregon, which is neither the place nor a hint.
ReplyDeleteAre you going to visit the one county in Oregon that is on Mountain Time? 😀
DeleteThat is odd, but no, much closer. The Deschutes River State Park where it flows into the Columbia River.
DeleteIt just made me think of this puzzle, that's why I asked. 😜
DeleteThere is a kind of roundabout clue in SDB's plans! Although I guess he'd have to have a slightly different plan for the clue to be a good one. (And it's very roundabout -- I don't think you can get from what SDB said to the answer, but only see the connection if you already know the answer.)
DeleteI am up to 5 alternate answers. One of them stretches the "observes" requirement a lot, but it otherwise meets the criteria of the puzzle. I think one of my other four, since it also does not involve changing a letter, is likely the same as Jan's. What I do not have is something that strikes me as the intended answer.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteSorry, I did not think that was TMI in any way.
DeleteChange one letter of the answer and you might find an imaginary place where certain officials congregate.
ReplyDeleteWe have the same answer.
DeleteA main street in many eastern cities would get you there.
ReplyDeleteHello to all--Long time reader, first time writer.
ReplyDeleteWith apologies to Bennett Cerf...
There is a fine fellow named Blaine
His Blog has achieved some fame
The members are quick
With a clue and a quip
And solve puzzles lickety-split
And for me, as usual, I am stumped.
Cheers to all. Fare thee well!
The Larch
Welcome to Blainesville, "The Larch!"
DeleteDandy limerick!
LegoWhoPrefersTheLarchToTheHorseChestnut
Lego's too polite to point out that the last line of a limerick rhymes with with the first two.
DeleteIf my answer is the intended one, I'll set the over/under at 100 this week. Judging from the comments, I think I have the same answer as Dr. K and Nodd, but maybe not as Crito and Blaine.
ReplyDeleteI have the same answer. I'll explain my clue after the Thursday deadline. Ambiguity? I accept what Will is doing.
DeleteBlaine, sly misdirection there! Love it.
DeleteYeah, the amendment to Rob's 'even' clue tells me I have the same answer as you. But Blaine's clue is not exactly easy to understand, even if you have the answer.
ReplyDeleteI don't get all the clues here, though, so it's quite possible there's another convincing answer.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteCalm down, Karen. No one's getting that reference here.
DeleteBut the Internet...
DeleteAfter wasting an entire day thinking about this off and on, I finally have an answer I really like.
ReplyDeleteActually it starts off as a as a limerick but it's not a limerick because the last couple of lines or maybe even three they don't work at all for a limerick the first and second and fifth lines have to rhyme and the second and third lines rhyme with a different rhyme
ReplyDeleteMore like limeWRECK (rimshot)
DeleteSeems like there may be more than one answer key to this one......and perhaps a bit risky to provide a musical clue to this one. (never mind the ambiguity of the puzzle already)
ReplyDeleteThere is a hint on air.
ReplyDeleteThe on-air player is from New York.
DeleteI have a local obscure answer, which I'm sure is not the intended one.
ReplyDeleteJust to clarify: My first answer was wrong. I’m sorry if in my haste and zeal I misled fellow bloggers. That incorrect answer required that two letters be changed, not one, something I did not recognize until later when I had thought about it further. However, I’m certain my subsequent answer is the intended one.
ReplyDeleteAs for “ambiguous”—the word of the day—I stand by its conventional definition, “having more than one possible meaning.” The word “place” in the puzzle’s wording is clearly ambiguous.
Yes, I seem to have a gift for oxymoron.
DeleteOkay, solved it. The answer is not ambiguous, for certain. Surprised that Blaine is clung towards Maryland, when - - did you know that it's possible to make OHIO into a palindrome? Especially parts like CINCINNATI?
ReplyDeleteI finally solved it, too. I have to say, this was the first time I used to Bananagrams tiles method, and it did work. And I understand Blaine's clue. Now to find one of my own....
ReplyDeleteActually, I let working it out with tiles stand as my clue.
DeleteDid you perhaps see my Sunday afternoon comment, before it was removed?
DeleteYes. The idea of using tiles was helpful. The rest of your deleted comment was absolutely not TMI.
DeleteThanks, I felt the same way, and was surprised to see it was removed. Hopefully, we will find out more on Thursday.
DeleteSounds like there are lots of plausible answers. Here’s a clue for mine: M
ReplyDeleteI found an "all-ages manufactured home community" that works ... prolly not the intended solution though ...
ReplyDeleteI now have two answers to this week's puzzle and I believe they are both perfectly acceptable and I'm not sure I will be able to post on time on Thursday because I'm working all day to get this cell phone of mine to work and stay on it for some reason all of a sudden it's working but I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow or the next day it's totally unpredictable but I will try
ReplyDeleteIf I were to head up 95 and buy 8 trees from Hanscome's Christmas Tree farm in Yarmouth, ME, and then transport them via ferry to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, for replanting, would the trees then be observing Atlantic Time? Yarmouth, MA, is closer, but it lacks a tree farm. Plus, Massachusetts trees wouldn't meet the crtieria.
ReplyDeleteyears of reading this blog, and finally figured how to log in and comment!
ReplyDeleteI think I have the same place as Bobby G.
EASTERN TIME - N + P = EMPIRE STATE
ReplyDelete"After wasting an entire day thinking about this off and on, I finally have an answer I really like." WASTING refers to an EMPIRE WAIST and then to EMPIRE STATE.
EASTERN TIME – N + P --> EMPIRE STATE
ReplyDeleteLast Sunday I said, “Change one letter of the answer and you might find an imaginary place where certain officials congregate.” Empire State --> Umpire State
I figured out the intended answer rather quickly and sent it in on Sunday. But for a lark, today (Monday), I had ChatGBT try to figure it out. Amazingly, it found a bonafide alternative answer. Not a great one, but it meets the stated criteria. Change an E in Eastern Time to an S, rearrange, and there you’ll find Eastminster – it’s not an incorporated city but it is a recognized Populated Place in Oconee County, SC. Find it on a map at https://chatgpt.com/c/68d19040-0d4c-8324-83a8-609582bc3cd5. Someday the bots will be coming to get us :)
I initially thought Westminster (MD and SC) was the answer, but I didn't realize until later (when I had arrived at "Empire State") that it required changing two letters, not just one.
DeleteI got the "umpire state" anagram after you posted the hint.
I thought of Eastminster, since Westminster was so well-known, but I couldn't find an actual place. Also, I didn't dare submit a comment about it before today.
DeleteI found two solutions: Eastminster (SC) and Erin Estates (NY), the latter being the "all-ages manufactured home community" that I mentioned
DeleteEMPIRE STATE
ReplyDeleteLike others here, I’ve been to the observation deck on the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building (and, like SuperZee, took photos), but I associate the building with the Warren Commission Report because in 1964 I purchased a copy of it there. My high school English teacher at the time informed me of an office in the building that had the official government one-volume hardcover publication for sale, and this became my memorable first visit to the Empire State Building.
Dr. K., Sadly, although I am a native New Yorker, who has not only toured the Empire State Building, but during a college summer job, serviced air conditioning equipment there, I missed solving this week’s puzzle.
DeleteThe place I was photographed, was a MAINE STREET…actually, at the main entrance to LLBean!
Prepare yourselves, Blainesvillians, to be Thoroughly dumbstruck and “Conundrumbstuck! by Chuck” on this week’s edition of Puzzleria! Master puzzle-crafter Chad Graham (aka "Chuck") is throwing down a quartet of thunderbolts that are sure to strike your fancy, titled:
ReplyDelete~ “Nonslumbering lumber!”
~ “Do the math!”
~ “Backward to the past” and
~ “Oliver, George, William & Joe in the NEWS (or OLDS?)”.
We shall upload Puzzleria! very soon this very afternoon!
Also on our menus this week are:
* a Schpuzzle of the Week titled “Is the tack room a back room?”
* a Healthful Hors d’Oeuvre titled “Behold the Mayo, for heart’s-sake!”
* a Petunia The Pig Slice titled “Fido? Frisky? Fluffy? Whiskers?”
* a 501 Dalmations Dessert titled “Things dogs do, name just two,” and
* ten terrific riffs of this week’s NPR puzzle, titled “Empire State of Mind... Benders...” (including six by Nodd, one by Tortitude and two by a very valued Puzzleria!n).
So come, get electrified enlightenedly (yet struck dumb!) by Chuck's brilliant conundrums!
Legomaniacally!...
I wrote (after correction), “Rearrange the even letters of the place. You get something to wear.” That’s SERAPE.
ReplyDeleteEMPIRE STATE
ReplyDelete> I'll let working it out with tiles stand as my clue.
I guess I'm an EMPIRicist.
Empire State
ReplyDeleteOne of my clues was:
ReplyDelete"Oh, man, I understand Blaine's clue!
For me, that's a record, getting it this fast."
I *think* Blaine's 410 clue alluded to the fact that the Empire State Building was built in 410 days, which was considered incredibly fast.
Another clue I gave: "There is a kind of roundabout clue in SDB's plans!"
ReplyDeleteYou can go from Seattle to Oregon on Amtrak's "Empire Builder" train. Of course, you'd be going to Portland, not to Eastern Oregon.
And my other clue was: "I've just realized that ambiguity is very relevant! But it will not interfere with solving, at all."
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure (almost?) everyone was thinking of the Empire State Building as the 'place', but New York State is the Empire State, and that's definitely a place under even the stricter definitions of 'place'.
I replaced the A with a C and rearranged to give “Times Center”, the place where the New Year’s Eve ball drops and is observed, literally.
ReplyDeleteEASTERN TIME, EMPIRE STATE
ReplyDeleteI clued about Cincinnati, Ohio in response to Blaine's 410 clue, which hinted at Baltimore. The Area Code for Cincinnati (the original) was 513. And the 5th and 13th letter of the Alphabet are E and M, hinting at Empire State. In which I live.
My (non-)hints:
ReplyDelete"A main street in many eastern cities would get you there."
EASTERN TIME - E + A --> A MAIN STREET
"If I were to head up 95 and buy 8 trees from Hanscome's Christmas Tree farm in Yarmouth, ME..."
EASTERN TIME - T + 8 --> 8 MAINE TREES
My clues - "....there may be more than one answer key here" as in "keys" which referred to Alicia Keys and her song Empire State of Mind. I also said "never mind the ambiguity" as another reference to that song. (or to Billy Joel's New York State of Mind. [by the way, his documentary was amazing if you haven't seen it yet]
ReplyDeleteI first came up with the Emirates and later empire State still camping not good with cell phone coming back soon
ReplyDeleteMy answers should read:
DeleteThe Emirates & Empire State
I like my first answer better than the intended second one, but I bet Will will not mention it, although I did submit it. He probably never even saw it.
EMPIRE STATE
ReplyDeleteMy clue, which was removed fairly quickly, said something along the lines of:
I spent all afternoon with the Bananagrams tiles, and finally found the answer. The answer reminds me of a different fruit.
My intent with the clue was a reference to the Empire variety of apple, which is a tasty variety, in my opinion.
I do not understand how that clue gives anything away. Any guidance on that would be appreciated.
My alternate answers were:
DeleteN MAIN STREET
S MAIN STREET
W MAIN STREET
E MAIN STREET (no letter change needed)
A MAIN STREET
There are examples of all of these in multiple states on the east coast of the USA.
Also, A TERMITE NEST works, and I'm sure there is at least one of those in the Eastern Time Zone, and since termites have eyes, you can say that they "observe" eastern time. Yes, that's a very big stretch, and it does not change a letter.
I figured 'Big Apple' was too close to the Empire State to be safe. Kind of a stretch, but Blaine is strict!
DeleteAgreed, Big Apple is too close. But I didn't say that. I just said another fruit. There are over 100 fruits, and apple isn't even the first one on Wikipedia's alphabetical list. I could have been thinking of an orange, and the answer could be someplace in Florida. Or a peach, and the answer someplace in Georgia. I was really trying to be vague (a fruit), but if you knew the answer, you could confirm your answer.
DeleteThank you for the explanation. I didn't get the answer this week and I don't think that would have nudged me in that direction. I tend to stay away from the blog until I either solve or give up. Once I did check in, I, like jan, tried using (scrabble) tiles but I never got closer than the obviously wrong, "Maine Street".
Delete34 & 5th
ReplyDeletewhat a wa(i)st(e)
ReplyDelete(an empire waist, that is)
DeleteThis week's challenge comes from Andrea Carla Michaels, of San Francisco. Name a famous actress (five letters in the first name, six letters in the last name). Change the first and third letters of her first name and the first letter of her last name. The resulting letters in order from left to right will name a place where you might see this actress.
ReplyDeleteYou can see many actors and actresses there.
ReplyDeleteWay too easy!
ReplyDeleteInteresting connection to an NFL player.
ReplyDeleteYes, pretty easy.
ReplyDeleteThe way one of the letters gets changed is a bit interesting.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Jan, it is hard to imagine an actor or actress who hasn't been seen there.
ReplyDeleteGot it, after arriving at the diner, before I ordered
ReplyDeleteYet another alternate answer: SENATE METRO. The subway that runs under the D.C. Capitol complex.
ReplyDelete