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Crossword-solving is often a solitary activity - over breakfast; on the train; on the loo... But a few times a year, crossword puzzle enthusiasts gather in their hundreds to compete to be the fastest, most accurate crossword-solver.

Crossword-solving is often a solitary activity - over breakfast; on the train; on the loo... But a few times a year, crossword puzzle enthusiasts gather in their hundreds to compete to be the fastest, most accurate crossword-solver.

This episode comes to you from a church basement on the Upper East Side of New York City, wherein takes place America's second largest crossword puzzle tournament: Lollapuzzoola.

CORRECTION: the competition prize included a 2017 almanac, not a 2007 edition. Apologies! In my jetlagged state, I misheard, and assumed that Lollapuzzoola were giving out a ten-year-old World Almanac as a wry tribute to their tenth anniversary. The jetlagged brain works in mysterious ways/doesn't work.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:

Try this year's Lollapuzzoola puzzles - right now you can buy them from bemoresmarter.com.
You heard from him in the show, now read Rex Parker Does The New York Times Crossword Puzzle.
Several of the people I met at Lollapuzzoola write about crosswords at Diary of a Crossword Fiend.
Crosswords by 2016 Lollapuzzoola champ Erik Agard.
About those tricksy meta-puzzle elements, by Paolo Pasco who constructed the infernal first puzzle at this year's tournament.
A rookie at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament.
A rookie at Lollapuzzoola in 2015.
The New York Times's crossword column, Wordplay.
The documentary Wordplay is about the NYT Crossword and the ACPT.
Want to enter the ACPT, the Indie 500 or Lollapuzzoola?
Listen to episode 8 of this show, about the construction of cryptic crosswords, at theallusionist.org/crosswords.
The transcript of this episode is at theallusionist.org/transcripts/lollapuzzoola.

YOUR RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
xerophyte

CREDITS:

Thanks to Bruce Ryan for making this all happen! Follow him on Twitter @brucery.
Much obliged to Brian Cimmet of Lollapuzzoola, and all the attendees you heard on the episode: in order of appearance, Steve, Chris, another Chris, Brian, Ben, Jesse, Erik, Michael, Laura, Adesina, Katie, Penelope, Neville and his mom C.
This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman; the music is by Martin Austwick.
Find me at facebook.com/allusionistshow, twitter.com/allusionistshow, twitter.com/helenzaltzman and instagram.com/helenzaltzman - and, live and onstage, at this year's London Podcast Festival.