Have you ever been stumped on a puzzle or game and thought to yourself: who in the world could come up with this? Well, if you’re an avid player of The New York Times Crossword, the mastermind is closer than you think. Hoboken resident Luke Schreiber recently had a second crossword published in the NYT, all before graduating high school. This isn’t the only brag-worthy item on Luke’s resume either: he’s also been published in the Los Angeles Times, is a nationally-rated Scrabble player, and is a rising freshman at Princeton University. So, how does a Hoboken high schooler become a professionally published puzzler? The Hoboken Girl reached out to Luke to find out. Read on to learn more about Luke Schreiber, the Hoboken resident whose crossword puzzles have been published in The New York Times.
The Hoboken Girl: Tell us a little bit about yourself — where you currently live, where you plan on going to school this fall, + what you like to do in your free time.
Luke Schreiber: I’m from Hoboken and I just graduated from St. Peter’s Prep High School in Jersey City. I will be attending Princeton University in the fall. In my free time, I like to make crosswords, play sports, and make hot sauces, often with peppers grown right here in Hoboken. I am also a nationally-rated Scrabble player and am always up for a game.
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HG: When did you first get into making crossword puzzles? Can you tell us a little bit about how you discovered you could make them on your own?
LS: I first created small crosswords for my dad, and after this initial foray into the crossword construction world, I soon discovered that I could submit crosswords to publications such as the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. I then began working on puzzles that I would send to these publications and had my first one published in the Los Angeles Times last June.
HG: What goes into making a crossword puzzle? Describe the process.
LS: Creating a crossword begins with the theme idea. I then develop the theme concept into a full theme set whose letter lengths will function with symmetry. Once I am satisfied with the theme, I place those into a five-by-five grid and begin placing black squares around to break up the puzzle and allow me to begin putting in the rest of the entries, known as the fill. The filling process is a lot of trial and error, combining software with human preference. After I have a fully filled grid I write the clues one by one and then I have my dad test solve it before sending it in to be considered for publication.
^ Luke’s most recent puzzle in The New York Times
HG: How did you land your puzzle in The New York Times? Not only once, but twice! Tell us about both experiences, including how it felt for you.
LS: It wasn’t until the eighteenth crossword I submitted that I received my first acceptance, so it is safe to say that I was thrilled. The Sunday acceptance was also satisfying because that one had gone through numerous versions and emails with the editors.
HG: What do you plan on studying at college? Do you see yourself continuing to make puzzles?
LS: I am uncertain as to my exact major, but I plan on studying linguistics in college and I absolutely plan on continuing to construct crosswords. I have more that will be published this year or next year and I may also contribute crosswords to the Daily Princetonian.
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HG: Just for fun: what are some of your favorite local spots/businesses in Hoboken? What is your favorite part about living here?
LS: One of my favorite spots in Hoboken is Choc O Pain because of its excellent pastries and French delicacies. The best part about living in Hoboken is the constant influx of new eateries and activities to try.
Winter Festivals Happening in Hudson County + Beyond for 2025
Whoever said there's nothing fun to do in the winter after the holiday season must've never been to New Jersey. The Garden State is home to all sorts of festivals, fairs, and expos, and some of the best ones happen during the winter months. From a Mac + Cheese fest featuring foods like mac + cheese cupcakes to a multi-day event dedicated solely to fishing, there are 23 different festivals and special events taking place from January to March for every kind of interest. Read on to learn more about festivals happening this winter 2025 in New Jersey.
January
Hackettstown’s Winterfest | Hackettstown
January 18th | 10AM-5PM
Hackettstown's Winterfest is a town-wide event that features local businesses, salons, restaurants, breweries, and more. Some of the participating shops include Greene’s Beans at 313 High Street, which will serve Hot Cocoa Flights for the festival, Czig Meister Brewery at 106 Valentine Street, where customers can receive a free fifth drink or $1 off of a cocktail or mocktail, and more. See the full list of participating businesses and what they're serving up during Hackettstown's Winterfest here.
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Rahway Soup Stroll | Rahway
January 18th + January 25th | 1PM-4PM
Local foodies can get a taste of Rahway's soup scene at this year's Soup Stroll. Here's how it works: visit any participating restaurant, ask for a Soup Stroll Sample, receive a free four-ounce sample of the featured soup, stroll to the next contributing spot, and repeat. Attendees can also take a "Souper Selfie" to enter a raffle to win a $25 gift certificate to any participating restaurant in Rahway. Guests can expect to try soups from Adeline Deli at 45 East Milton Avenue, Caido del Cielo at 221 West Main Street, Copacabana Coffee + Bagels at 77 East Milton Avenue, and more. See the full list of businesses and details on how to enter the raffle here.
Downtown Cranford 2025 Souperhero Stroll | North Union Avenue, Cranford
January 18th + January 19th | 12PM-2PM
The Downtown Cranford Souperhero Stroll returns for 2025. At this family-friendly event, attendees can stroll along Eastman Clock Plaza Park and see life-size superhero balloon sculptures by Dream Factory Balloons, a balloon store based in Kenilworth. This festival will also showcase a soup-tasting event and a canned food donation. Tickets cost $10 and all proceeds will go toward Cranford High School's Class of 2025 Project Graduation. Participants are encouraged to wear superhero costumes and bring non-perishable canned food items. Click here for more information.
The Fly Fishing Show | 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison
January 24h-January 26th | 9AM-6PM + 9AM-4:30PM
The Fly Fishing Show is coming to seven different towns across the country, and Edison is one of them. This event will take place at the New Jersey Convention + Expo Center and will present various classes on all the fishing essentials, seminars from experts in the field, casting demos, and more throughout three days in January. The first night of The Fly Fishing Show will also include the Fishing Film Festival, where attendees can watch films highlighting the fishing lifestyle and culture. Tickets range from $5 to $20 and children under five and scouts in uniform can enter for free. Learn more about this event here.
Dessertopia | 430 Western Avenue, Morristown
January 25th | 11AM-7PM
Dessertopia, a festival surrounding all things sweet treats, will take place at the Morristown Armory. As per the festival's website, attendees should "wear [their] stretchy pants...for the ultimate cheat day of the year." There will be all kinds of desserts to indulge in, including peach cobbler, chocolate bonbons, 30+ flavors of gourmet fudge, homemade Dubai chocolate with pistachio + biscoff fillings, cupcake jars, and so much more. Along with sweet foods, there will also be an adult beverage bar, local vendors, a DJ, and face painting.
Garden State Comic Fest | 37 Plains Road, Augusta
January 25th + January 26th | 10AM-5PM + 10AM-3PM
Comic, video game, and cartoon lovers alike can look forward to this festival in late January at The Sussex County Fairgrounds. At the Garden State Comic Fest, guests can meet various comic artists, including Jim Calafiore, who's worked on popular pieces like Aquaman, Deadpool, and Black Panther, and Reilly Brown, a New Jersey native and top-selling comic artist for DC Comics, Marvel Comics, and Line Webtoon. This festival will also feature special guest speakers like Lisa Raggio, the voice of Zarana in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, and Michelle Santiago, an actor and producer popularly known for her appearance in Terrifier 2 and her work on films and TV shows like Stream, Clerks 3, Manifest, Gotham, Fallout, and more. Food trucks like Bennett St. BBQ, Empanada Guy, The Greek Kitchen, and Homer's Girls Food Truck will also be available for attendees to grab a quick bite. See more details, including ticket information, here.
Lunar Fest NJ | 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood
January 26th | 12PM-4PM
New Jerseyans are invited to celebrate the Year of the Snake at Maplewood's Lunar Fest, which will shine a spotlight on Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese cultures. This event will include children's crafts, dance and song performances, vendors, face painting, and more. Local restaurants will be in attendance, including Pandang, serving authentic Japanese + Thai cuisine, Mochimoly, serving Korean rice cakes + American fried donuts, and Ani Ramen, featuring various ramen dishes. This festival is free for all. See this link for the schedule and full list of participating spots.
February
Thomas Edison Film Festival | 100 Ridge Road, Mahwah
February 1st | 2PM-3:30PM
The Thomas Edison Film Festival, which has occurred for over 40 years, will return to Mahwah on February 1st. Hosted by the Mahwah Public Library, this event will showcase three award-winning documentary films, including Andrew Nadkarni's Academy-Award Short List 2024 + TEFF Global Insights Stellar Award winner Between Earth and Sky, Brian Henderson's TEFF Jury’s Citation Award winner Note of Defiance, and Ryoya Terao's TEFF Jury’s Choice Award winner 13 Drivers’ Licenses. All three of the films' creators will make an appearance for a Q+A after the screenings. While this event is free, registration is required. Those looking to attend should register no later than February 1st at 2PM. Click this link to register.
Jersey City Whiskey Fest | 210 Hudson Street, Jersey City
February 1st-February 6th | 6PM-9:30PM
The Jersey City Whiskey Fest is making a comeback this winter. For six days straight, attendees can taste a wide selection of whiskies and craft spirits, such as all-American Kentucky bourbons, Mexican Tequila, Russian Vodka, and more, at the Harborside Atrium. There will also be live music and several food options available for purchase. Tickets range from $15 to $42 and can be found at this link.
South Orange International Blues Fest: Winter Edition | 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange
February 7th | 7:30PM
Mike Griot, SOPAC curator and local blues icon, will bring the Winter Edition of SOPAC’s 2nd Annual South Orange International Blues Festival to the Northern New Jersey community this February. Because the theme of this series is “Women of the Blues,” the festival will feature three accomplished female artists: Alexis P. Suter of The Alexis P. Suter Band (APSB), a famed artist in the local blues scene, Sue Foley, a 2025 Grammy-nominated artist, and Rae Simone of Rae Simone + the Fellas, who's "known for her mesmerizing and soulful powerhouse vocals," according to the festival's website. This festival will take place at SOPAC and tickets start at $35. Purchase tickets for this event here.
Mac + Cheese Mayhem | 430 Western Avenue, Morristown
February 8th | 11AM=6:30PM
From mac + cheese cupcakes to mac+ cheese stuffed bread, attendees of this event can expect to try all kinds of variations of everyone's favorite noodle dish and cast a vote for their top choice. The Mac Daddy Award (yes, it comes with a real trophy) will be granted to the vendor with the highest votes. Along with mac + cheese, there will be music, beer, margaritas and sangrias, local vendors, kids activities, hatchet throwing, a petting zoo, face painting, and sand art. This festival will occur at the Morristown Armory and tickets cost $7 if pre-purchased and $10 at the door. Children three and under can enter for free. Buy tickets for the Mac and Cheese Mayhem here.
New Jersey Boat Expo | 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison
February 13th-February 16th
Those interested in taking up boating this summer can climb aboard various boats at the New Jersey Boat Expo, which will feature a wide range of boats from different brands. This event will also include vendors selling boating accessories, free fishing seminars, children's activities, and food + drinks. The New Jersey Boat Expo will take place at the New Jersey Convention + Expo Center. Tickets cost $12 and children 12 and under can attend for free. See more information about this expo and how to purchase tickets here.
Red, White, + Brew Fest | 81 Hamilton Avenue, Trenton
February 15th | 1PM-5PM
Taking place the weekend of President's Day, this patriotic festival will include over 50 kinds of craft breweries, wineries, and spirits, as well as live music from Nine Deeez Nite, interactive games, contests, and more. During the event, there will also be a special birthday toast to George Washington in honor of the holiday. The Red, White + Brew Fest will happen at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton. The general admission ticket includes drink sampling and a souvenir cup and the VIP ticket includes early access, a t-shirt, a tote bag, and more. See more details on the festival's website.
Jersey Art Book Fair (JAB) | 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City
February 21st-February 23rd
The annual Jersey Art Book Fair is returning to Jersey City in February. This year's JAB Fair, which will take place at the Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal in Liberty State Park, will include an extra day of programs and activities, as well as over 150 book artists, zine makers, small presses, and indie publishers. For two of the three days, attendees can look forward to various kinds of festivities around the Jersey City area, including workshops, panels, installations, exhibitions, film showings, demos, readings, and meditations. Participants will also have the opportunity to shuttle across JC to visit participating galleries and cultural centers. The festival's website for 2025 is still in the works, so those interested in more information are encouraged to check out Dense Magazine's page on the fair here.
2025 Taste of Madison | 1 Convent Station, Road Morristown
February 24th | 6PM-9:30PM
Located at The Madison Hotel in Morristown, Madison has invited all New Jerseyans to get a taste of the town's culinary scene at this annual festival. The 2025 Taste of Madison will highlight the best dishes from restaurants throughout the area, as well as a curated selection of wines, beers, and spirits from Gary’s Wine + Marketplace. Tickets to this event cost $85 and can be purchased here.
New Jersey Home + Garden Show | 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison
February 28th-March 2nd | 3PM-8PM + 10AM-7PM + 10AM-5PM
Those with green thumbs can get ready for spring at the New Jersey Home and Garden Show in Edison. This festival will take place over three days and feature 175+ gardening and marketplace vendors, kitchen + bath professionals to help attendees design their dream spaces, interior and exterior designers, and more. Located at the New Jersey Convention + Expo Center, tickets for this event range from $10 to $12. Children 15 and under can attend for free. For more information on the New Jersey Home and Garden Show and to purchase tickets, see this link.
March
Big Brew Beer Festival | 430 Western Avenue, Morristown
March 1st | 12PM-5PM
Morristown's Big Brew Beer Festival kicks off on the first day of March. This event, hosted by The Morristown Armory, will include over 150 different crafts and brews to try, as well as food and live music. While the beer list and music lineup have yet to be announced, the list of participating restaurants is live on the festival's website. As of this writing, the list includes Uncle Sals Egg Rolls, Beard One BBQ, Angry Archies, and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Tickets for this festival range from $15 to $80. To purchase tickets and see what it includes, check out this link.
Brewsology Beer Fest | 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City
March 1st | 7PM-11PM
According to the festival's website, "The Brewsology Beer Fest is the boozy hybrid of your middle school museum field trip," as attendees can check out the museum's exhibits and science demonstrations while sipping on various kinds of beer creations. This festival will take over the Liberty Science Center after hours and showcase dozens of local craft breweries and cideries in the local area, including Hackensack Brewing Co., 902 Brewing Co., Thin Man Brewery, and 48 others. Tickets for this beer fest range from $65 to $80, depending on whether patrons choose the general admission or VIP ticket. See more details about this event here.
Maple Sugar Fest | 165 Hobart Avenue, Summit
March 2nd | 1PM-4PM
Summit locals and maple syrup lovers alike are invited to this family-friendly festival on March 2nd. At the annual Maple Sugar Fest, which takes place at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum, participants will learn how to turn tree sap into maple syrup, hike along the many trails on the property, and partake in the Maple Sugaring Challenge. This event is free for Reeves-Reed Arboretum members and $10 for non-members. Member registration begins January 21st at 9AM and January 28th at 9AM for non-members. See the festival's website for more information.
Millburn Lunar New Year Festival | Millburn Avenue, Millburn
March 2nd | 12PM-5PM
This lunar festival, which celebrates Chinese culture and the Year of the Snake, will consist of a street fair, food vendors, games, and live performances. The Millburn Lunar New Year Festival will occur on Millburn Avenue, between Main Street + Spring Street. Specific details regarding this year's event have yet to be announced, so visit the festival's website for any future announcements.
Heart of Oneness Holistic Expo | 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison
March 7th-March 9th | 5PM-9PM + 10AM-7PM + 10AM-5PM
With over 200 kinds of healers, readers, crystals, psychics, and more, the Heart of Oneness Holistic Expo will be a one-stop shop for all things spiritual wellness. Along with vendors selling all kinds of products and services, this festival will also feature special activities like yoga classes, author meet + greets, sound healing workshops, and more. The Heat of Oneness Holistic Expo will take place at the New Jersey Convention + Expo Center. Guests can enter for free on Friday, March 7th. Those looking to attend on March 8th or March 9th will need to purchase a $10 ticket or a $15 weekend pass. See more information about this expo and ticket options here.
Garden State Film Festival | 25 North Avenue West, Cranford
March 27th-March 30th
The annual Garden State Film Festival takes place throughout six different locations in New Jersey this year, one of them being at the Cranford Theater. This event will include multiple screenings from the 2025 GSFF winners, some of which include Fragments of Solace, the feature screenplay winner, Purgatorio, the short screenplay winner, and more. In addition, there will be workshops, panel discussions, and a filmmaker Q + A after each film block. Tickets for this festival range from $30 to $105, with each ticket granting different features. See the ticket options here.
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The Chocolate Expo | 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison
March 29th + March 30th | 10AM-6PM
Chocolate enthusiasts are in for a treat this March because The Chocolate Expo is coming to Edison. This nationwide event will have vendors selling chocolate, baked goods, specialty foods, cheeses, craft beverages like wines, spirits, and cider, and more. Attendees can also expect a "Kidz Zone," featuring face painting and balloon twisting, chocolate demos, interactive presentations, and balloon sculptures by Robby Furman, a world-renowned balloon artist. Tickets range from $10 to $30 and children under five can enter for free. Learn more about ticket options for The Chocolate Expo here.
