Block Party: Michigan Edition

Join Emily Biegas and Sala Wanetick, the creators of Block Party Puzzles, in our Grand Rapids event studio to celebrate Michigan through their latest crossword collection, Block Party: Michigan Edition!

Whether you solve the New York Times crossword daily in pen or are simply “crossword curious,” this night has something for you. Expect Grand Rapids deep cuts, word games, and tons of audience participation. No puzzle experience necessary.

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About the Book:

Block Party: Michigan Edition will capture a whole new audience of solvers, with five chapters covering the entire state: Southeastern, Mid + Western Michigan, Up North, the Upper Peninsula, and a miscellaneous chapter titled “Across the Mitten.” This time around, Sala and Emily are both authors and editors, overseeing a truly star-studded lineup of constructors with ties to the state of Michigan. Some of the contributors include: Jamie Ding (31- Day Jeopardy Champion, originally from Grosse Pointe), Tracy Bennett (New York Times Games + Wordle Editor and Ann Arborite), Andy Kravis (New Yorker Games Editor, University of Michigan grad, and Farmington Hills native), and many more accomplished constructors.

About the Authors:

Block Party Press formed in late 2025 as a publishing company with the mission of creating “crossword puzzles for the people.” Longtime friends turned collaborators, Sala Wanetick and Emily Biegas have published puzzles in The New York Times, LA Times, USA Today, AVCX, Andrew McMeel's Universal Syndicate, Apple News+, Defector, and Puzzmo. But, as lifelong Detroiters, they were drawn to create something made uniquely for locals (because we all know that Detroit hustles harder). This was the inspiration behind Block Party: Detroit Edition.