New York Times Dylan-themed crossword has Duluth ties
The New York Times published a special Bob Dylan-themed crossword puzzle Oct. 1. A subscription is required to access the puzzle, but the introductory article is not behind a paywall.
The puzzle editor gives a nod to her father, Duluth’s Ed Newman, a local writer and artist who serves on the Duluth Dylan Fest committee. Though Dylan was born in Duluth, there are no Duluth shoutouts in the puzzle, but Hibbing is the answer to one of the clues.
The introductory article mentions both Duluth and Newman:
For the editor Christina Iverson, a self-proclaimed “Bob Dylan superfan,” this puzzle holds a certain weight: Her father, Ed Newman, co-wrote “Bob Dylan in Minnesota: Troubadour Tales from Duluth, Hibbing and Dinkytown”; has written dozens of articles about Dylan; and has even painted his portrait a few times “He can tie just about anything to Dylan, so I was trying to channel my dad when I was editing,” she said. This Special puzzle features lyric references, cultural landmarks and even historic events tied to Dylan. You’re bound to walk away learning something new about him — I certainly did.
I did that puzzle. It has nothing to do with Bob Dylan. And, it was constructed by Jill Singer!
As someone who regularly does the New York Times crossword, the Dylan-themed one was ridiculously easy. I thought of many clues/answers that would not have been all that esoteric, his birth city being one of them.