Chuck Menning, Patrick Merrell and Will Shortz

Victor Fleming and Paula Gamache

Rich Silvestri

Jim Page and Brendan Emmett Quigley (with Henry Rathvon and Emily Cox)

Deb Amlen

Byron Walden

Kevin McCann at the Cru Dinner

Cru Dinner — Joe Cabrera, Tom Ratcliffe, Bruce Morton, Al Sanders, Judy Pozar and Jill Palmer

Jim Conklin, Co Crocker, and Judy Conklin at the Cru Dinner

Zulema Seligsohn makes a special appearance at the Cru Dinner and gets a hug from Jim Conklin

Mike Alpern, Arnold Reich and Frank Longo

Ellen Ripstein, Faye Eastwood and Lynn Del Vecchio

Rich Norris and Kim Taylor

Joe Cabrera

Mike Shenk and his "one hour" Garden Variety puzzle.

Snow on the ground Saturday morning at the Stamford Marriott (who else but a Florida boy would bother with this picture!)

J!m Jenista

Stella Daily in her PJ's

Lloyd Mazer with Stella Daily

Cru Wine Party with Mike Alpern, Tom Ratcliffe, Hugh Murphy, Susan and Ed Hoffman and Maureen Hathaway

Maureen Hathaway and Co Crocker

Ed and Susan Hoffman sing the song they prepared for the Idol contest — for which, unfortunately, they were not selected.

Laura Walker — graduate student from Cleveland State University — author of soon to be presented paper on "The Sociology of Modest Activities: The Social World of The New York Times Crossword Puzzle"

Cru Wine Party with Mike Alpern, J!m Jenista and Judy Conklin

Michael Shteyman with Co Crocker

Co Crocker and Pat Merrell

Lloyd Mazer, Michael Shteyman and Pat Merrell

American Crossword Idol contest with Vic Fleming accompanied by Stella Daily and Ben Tausig

Ellen Ripstein and her twirling baton

Sherry O. Blackard and Nancy Shack

Frank Longo with Merl Reagle and Neal Conan just before the finals.

Mystery Person — Chris Aldrich

B Finalists Stella Daily, Amy Reynaldo and Arnold Reich.

A Finalists Tyler Hinman, Trip Payne and Al Sanders.

C Finalists Len Elliott, Jonathan Gray and Susan Hoffman — amazingly enough — all Rookies!

Amy Reynaldo and Mike Alpern at the Awards Luncheon

Ed and Susan Hoffman at the Awards Luncheon

Harvey Estes and Tyler Hinman

Matt Jones, Rich Norris and Kim Taylor

Peter Gordon

Al Sanders

Fred Jarmuz

Maureen Hathaway, Pamela Feiring and Ellen Harland

Al Sanders receives his trophy

Tyler Hinman lifts his silver cup