Mini Crossword Today: Answers for Nov. 12

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It helps to know a little bit about zoos and authors. It’s also fun that the answers for 7-Across and 3-Down only differ by one letter. Read on for all the answers.

The Mini Crossword is a nice break from tougher puzzles and takes only a fraction of the time needed to solve the vaunted full-size New York Times Crossword.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Eye color of white tigers
Answer: BLUE

 5A clue: Home to the largest urban zoo in the United States, with “the”
Answer: BRONX

6A clue: Mayonnaise-like condiment
Answer: AIOLI

7A clue: Not suited for leadership
Answer: UNFIT

8A clue: What Chik’n Nuggets and Beyond Burgers lack
Answer: MEAT

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Pickle juice
Answer: BRINE

2D clue: Shower scrubber
Answer: LOOFA

3D clue: Dark, as a room
Answer: UNLIT

4D clue: Door to the outside
Answer: EXIT

5D clue: L. Frank ___, author of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”
Answer: BAUM

CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of “Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the ’70s and ’80s,” as well as “The Totally Sweet ’90s.” She’s been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She’s Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she’ll be first in line.

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