NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 13, 2025): Take Me Out to the Ballgame

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 13, 2025): Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Q: Take two different articles of clothing and place them one after the other. The result will spell something seen at a baseball game. What is it?

At first I thought the answer would literally spell out something like B-A-T. My second thought was that it must be a Team Mascot with the second piece of clothing being an ascot. But before I could think of a third incorrect answer, it hit me.

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 6, 2025): Nice Place in the U.S. to Vacation

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 6, 2025): Nice Place in the U.S. to Vacation

Q: This is a phonetic challenge in four parts. First, say a letter of the alphabet out loud -- like B, C, or L. Then name something you might carry around in your pocket. Say it twice. Finally, name a variety of tree. Say these four things in order, and phonetically they'll name a nice place in the United States to vacation. What is it?

This place was mentioned on this blog in the last couple years by someone from a city and state that started with the same letter.

Edit: As part of a two-week challenge, Tim Pearce of Pittsburg, PA sent in HAWAII = "Honolulu and Waikiki — awesome, I imagine".

A: WAIKIKI BEACH (Y + KEY + KEY + BEECH)

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 29, 2025): Famous Movie Actor and Brand

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 29, 2025): Famous Movie Actor and Brand

Q: Think of a famous movie star (6 letters, 6 letters). The first name, when said out loud, sounds like a brand of a certain object. The last name is someone who uses this object. What movie star is this?

Has this puzzle got you over a barrel?

Edit: A barrel maker is a cooper which is also a model of the Mini car brand.

A: MINNIE DRIVER --> MINI, DRIVER

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 22, 2025): Film Award

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 22, 2025): Film Award

Q: Take the first and last names of a major film director. Drop the last six letters of his name, and rearrange what remains. You'll get the name of a major film award -- for which this director has been nominated six times. Who is he and what is the award?

Technically, the director has one more name.

Edit: Wikipedia adds his maternal surname (Caballero). Also, I probably shouldn't have used the graphic that I did.

A: PEDRO ALMODÓVAR, PALME D'OR

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 15, 2025): Child's Play

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 15, 2025): Child's Play

Q: Take a child's game, in eight letters. Change the sixth letter to 'ch' and, phonetically, you'll have a popular animated children's character. What are the game and the character?

How manu of us remember the first time we played this?

The first time I played this game, I was on the receiving end and don't remember playing. But I do remember later when I was on the giving end.

A: PEEK-A-BOO, PIKACHU

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 8, 2025): Female Animals and Their Offspring

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 8, 2025): Female Animals and Their Offspring

Q: Name certain female animals. Insert a T somewhere inside the word, and you'll get a synonym for this animal's offspring. What animals are these?

Of course I appreciate this puzzle along with all the puzzles created by our esteemed LegoLambda.

Edit: Did I overdo it with my "fawning" over Lego?

A: DOES --> DOTES, FAWNS

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 1, 2025): Famous Movie Characters

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 1, 2025): Famous Movie Characters

Q: Think of a famous current actor. His first name is also the name of a famous movie character. Drop the middle letter of his last name and you'll name another famous movie character. Each character is a central figure in a dozen or more films. What actor is this?

Let me add that I've already heard part of this wordplay. The puzzle might have been more relevant in a couple weeks, give or take.

Edit: "add" = "ad" --> Recent State Farm commercials have made fun of asking for "Bateman" when you really want "Batman". The only Friday the 13th this year will occur this month; a hint toward "Jason Voorhees".

A: JASON BATEMAN --> JASON and BATMAN.

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 25, 2025): Unusual Wordplay

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 25, 2025): Unusual Wordplay

Q: The onetime country duo "Montgomery Gentry" and the classic song "Go on With the Wedding" have a very unusual wordplay property in common. What is it?

Those that have read the Narnia series will have an advantage.

Edit: The phrase NARNIA SERIES is another example of a "pair isogram".

A: Each phrase can be considered a pair isogram where each different letter appears exactly twice.

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 18, 2025): You Read It Here First

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 18, 2025): You Read It Here First

Q: Name a popular magazine. Rearrange its letters. Then add an O at the end and you'll name a prominent subject in this magazine's new issue. What magazine is it? Hint: You don't need to read this magazine in order to guess the answer.

You can add a few more letters and the answer still works.

Edit: You can add X, I and V.

A: PEOPLE, POPE LEO

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 11, 2025): Famous Singer

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 11, 2025): Famous Singer

Q: Name a famous singer past or present. Remove the first and last letter from the first name and the result will be a potential partner of the last name. What singer is this?

Little did I know that my first guess was close.

Edit: My first guess was Lady Gaga

A: GLADYS KNIGHT --> LADY, KNIGHT