Theme: FRESH START (60. New beginning, and what the first words of the answers to the starred clues can literally have)
17. *Mobile game with a variety of blades: FRUIT NINJA. Fresh fruit.
23. *Inked designs on one's chin and cheeks, e.g.: FACE TATTOOS. Fresh face.
39. *Summer cooler: AIR CONDITIONING. Fresh air.
48. *Meghan Markle's husband: PRINCE HARRY. Fresh Prince.
Boomer here. This is the first L.A. Times crossword edited by Patti Varol. And a themed puzzle from the themeless expert Doug Peterson. A fresh start.
 |
| Patti & Doug (Thanks, Husker Gary) |
Across:
6. Traditional dress of India: SARI. Guys wear tunics and long jackets
10. Apples reviewed on tech sites: MACS. Also a big hamburger.
14. The NCAA's Huskies: U CONN. Basketball home of Paige
Bueckers. She grew up in Hopkins Minnesota and played for Hopkins
High. I also grew up in Hopkins but went to a catholic High School in a
nearby suburb.
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15. Actor Dorsey of "Queen Sugar": OMAR. Ilhan OMAR is a Minnesota representative in Congress.
16. Sonic rebound: ECHO.
19. "Better late __ never": THAN. But better never late.
20. Surf's partner: TURF.
21. "Looking for," in personal ads: ISO. In Search Of
22. Like a smokestack: SOOTY. We quit using our basement fireplace. Too SOOTY.
27. Convenience called a "cashpoint" in the U.K.: ATM. We quit using ours. Too criminally controversial.
30. Luau instrument, briefly: UKE. Tiny Tim's choice of musical.
31. Comic Margaret: CHO.
32. Obedient puppy's reward: TREAT.
34. Mexican cruise port: ACAPULCO. I never got past Tijuana.
42. Fit together nicely: DOVETAIL. If your tee shots do this, change your golf ball.
43. Venomous snake: VIPER.
44. Big coffee vessel: URN. Normally in restaurants.
45. Honeybunny: BAE.
47. Fr. holy title: STE.
53. Literature Nobelist Munro: ALICE. Wonderland lady
54. PC "oops" key: ESC. C'mon, I don't make Misstackes.
55. Approx. landing hours: ETAS. Better late than never, but better never late.
59. Insurance quote: RATE. Never cheap.
63. Great Sphinx locale: GIZA.
64. Adequately skilled: ABLE. If I could get my legs back, I may be ABLE to bowl again.
65. Spotted horse: PINTO. A vintage compact Ford.
66. Black gemstone: ONYX.
67. Soft drizzle: MIST. We just had five more days of winter last week in Minnesota. More than a MIST, it was that white stuff.
68. Off-kilter: ASKEW.
Down:
2. Light beige: ECRU.
3. Whiskey cocktail: SOUR. Terrible. Back in my days I normally had ONE VO Manhattan with cherry juice. One was always enough.
4. Scratch and __: SNIFF. Like a lottery ticket.
5. Tiny crumb carrier: ANT. I have mentioned them before. They find a little hole in our driveway and dig in their home.
6. "Evidently": SO I SEE. Said the blind man, but he really didn't.
7. "Are too!" response: AM NOT.
8. "The Big Bang Theory" character: RAJ.
9. Nest egg letters: IRA. Retirement venture. 25. Pt. of 9-Down: ACCT. Account.
10. Silence-breaking women's movement: ME TOO.
11. "Bless you!" trigger: ACHOO. I generally get a sneezing attack every morning.
12. Makes small talk: CHATS.
13. Walkman developer: SONY. Never owned one of them.
18. One of the Jonas Brothers: NICK. Also a Saint in a red suit that comes once a year.
22. Drop by: STOPOVER.
24. Pitch-correcting vocal effect: AUTO-TUNE.
26. Som tam cuisine: THAI.
27. Just barely: A TAD.
28. The Chicks, e.g.: TRIO. Chad Mitchell guys were my favorite. But I know you new that. After Chad left to go on his own, John Denver got his start.
29. "Jeopardy!" creator Griffin: MERV. I watch most episodes every night. Sometimes I know an answer or two to some of those questions called answers.
33. Card with one pip: ACE.
34. Feel rotten: AIL. Oddly, after four shots of chemotherapy, I still do not feel rotten.
35. Verse starter?: UNI.
36. ''My __ are sealed!'': LIPS. MISS HOT LIPS on M.A.S.H.
37. Tech review site: CNET.
38. Brute of folklore: OGRE.
40. Cop after dealers: NARC.
41. Eat in style: DINE. I hope a pizza counts.
45. Droopy-eared hound: BASSET.
46. St. Louis landmark: ARCH. I have seen this when I went to a World Series game at Busch Stadium in 1987. But I did not take the trip up inside it.
48. Not fancy: PLAIN.
49. Very fancy: RITZY. I eat their crackers with peanut butter.
50. Alpine climbing tool: ICE AX. Tiger Woods bathing tool
51. Dressy footwear: HEELS. I just put my HEELS in the footwear.
52. Bigfoot relatives: YETIS.
53. Cornstarch brand in yellow-and-blue containers: ARGO.
56. Aquarium: TANK. Our Twins TANKED two games to Seattle but then came back to even the series. Followed by 4 days of winter.
57. Works in un museo: ARTE.
58. Pack away: STOW.
60. Sibs, 'rents, etc.: FAM.
61. Stat in softball: RBI. Also in baseball. Major leagues has begun. I've been a Twins fan since 1961. But I respect all of you home team rooters.
62. Self-care getaway: SPA. Never used one. I heard Tiger Woods puts ice in his.
Boomer
37 comments:
FIRight, tricky for a Monday.
Thumper on the theme.
Cockney ALICE in ACAPULCO
Followed a rabbit down 'is 'ole.
The game that day?
Bullfight! Olé!
She 'ad 'er sword to poke a toro!
It is FRUITLESS effort to evade
A NINJA with a "variety of blades"
A Ginsu Ninja, to slice and dice?
A Swiss Army Ninja, with a knife?
Or Edward Scissorhands, fingers arrayed?
{B+, B.}
The only answer I was unfamiliar with was the cornstarch "Argo." And I also must admit I didn't get the theme until the reveal. Other than that, smooth sailing, as is usual for a Monday. FIR, so I'm satisfied.
Good morning!
Seemed tougher than our normal Monday fare. Patti's apparently off to a "fresh start." Still, it was a top-to-bottom solve; no Wite-Out was required. Thanx, Doug (Where ya been?) and Boomer. (Good to hear that the chemo hasn't been ruining your days, and that you can keep on keepin' on.)
Oh, also I wasn't familiar with Ms. Thompson or Mr. Dorsey, but the perps made them clear.
The baton has passed seamlessly. Nice easy Monday. TESSA Thompson has been coming up more frequently as she gets larger roles in film.
Thanks Boomer - glad it hasn't been too rough - for prostate cancer chemo, it often doesn't have a lot of side effects except fatigue.
Headed to the dentist before the office so early start today!
Tougher than a typical Monday, FIR in 17. DNK TESSA, NICK, FRUITNINJA, OMAR, ALICE. Once again, needed PERPS all over the place. Too many names. But no W/Os. Got the theme only after the reveal. Thanx DT. And thanx Boomer, for the nice write-up. Glad u are tolerating the chemo and keep chugging along.
Me, too, inanehiker. Time for that quarterly cleaning. This time I have one tooth fewer than last time. Think I'll get a discount?
FIR, but had to fix ACAPoLCO. UNTIE! I knew of the Jonas Bros, but neither of their first names. Also DNK OMAR, FRUIT NINJA, ALICE, som tam or cashpoint.
Last year I thought I saw mouse droppings in our kitchen. I set up some traps, but not only did they not snap, but the bait had droppings. My golfing buddy who owns his own pest control company had me send him a picture of the droppings, and he told me that I was seeing flour beetles, not mouse you-know-what. I looked but couldn't find flour, but did find a can on ARGO corn meal full of the pests. Cleaned the cabinet but I still saw them. Another cabinet, another can of ARGO. Cleaned that up too, and they still were present. I found a third can of infested ARGO, and this time cleaning the cabinet stopped the problem. Apparently when my DW was still able to cook, she just bought a new can whenever she made anything requiring corn meal.
Thanks to Doug for the Wednesday-level puzzle on Monday, and to Boomer for the fun tour. I'm glad to hear that chemo isn't kicking your butt.
D-O, if you get a discount for a missing tooth, my haircuts should be damned near free.
ATMs are "criminally controversial "???. I know they can charge a hefty fee
I drove a PINTO c. 1972
Seemed a bit like a TV Guide xword. Very slow going for Monday needing lots of perps. I too had seGO for the cornstarch.
I did this online in just under 15. I checked for typos before filling the last "congrats" box for a clean FIR
WC
FIR, nice easy Monday solve. A few unknowns but perps did them in.
Took 5:14 today.
So, this is the beginning of a new era?
A FRESH START today with Patti's guidance. Thanks, Doug for a FIR puzzle with a few WOs due to a slow-starting brain. I put SOda/SOUR and TATOOS/TATTOOS (I know...) but perps saved the FIR. I noticed RAJ, UKE and ONYX appeared again today. Some FRESH fill appeared too for a fun puzzle. Thanks also to Boomer for the review. So good to hear you are doing so well.
Your comments about discounts at the dentist and hair salon made me smile, Jinx and DO. Then I remembered I get a discount at Supercuts for being old!
Hope you all enjoyed your chocolate bunnies yesterday. Hand up for preferring dark chocolate. Some left for today. Yay!
Thank you Doug Pterson for an easy Monday, with a few wrinkles. I enjoyed the solve.
Thank you Boomer, for your humorous commentary and review. So Glad, you are doing OK, and tolerating the Chemo well.
I smiled when I saw FRESH START because of all the hoop-la at the Crossword Corner of the changing of the guard today, from Rich Norris to Patti Varol, as Chief Honcho, ... er, Editor.
The King is Dead ( er, retired ...) ... Long Live the King !!! ( er, Queen.)
If I rememeber right, UCONN was Lemonades favorite college team ... the female team, that is.
I thought the Pt. of the 'IRA' ... was retirement income, and I kept wondering on how to shorten it or abbreviate it .... ( sigh ) crosswordese has its own argot ....
A noted finanacial retirement income advisor recently said in a lecture that::::
For Many americans, the Only retirement income provisions, they make, are ::
either, a). Social Security , and / or ....
b) Winning the State or National Lottery .....
Have a great Monday, you all, and a great week ahead.
Vidwan, I attended the University of Connecticut for Undergraduate and graduate school 1965-1970. It coincided with the first appearance of the men's basketball team in the AP rankings. They did not have a Lady Husky team until 1974, by which time I had already graduated law school in Florida. The success of the the women's team is an incredible story and the men's team also has been successful twice winning in the same year as the Ladies. Go Huskies! I split my allegiance for men's between Connecticut and Florida, which has won three titles in recent years. Thanks for the SO
Whenever I see the letter "J" in an answer, I start thinking that we will see all of the letters in the puzzle. Got really close today...only missing a "Q". Too bad there was no way to sQueeze that in there. :-)
Marvellous Monday. Thanks for the fun, Doug and Boomer.
Welcome Patti, for a FRESH START.
I FIRed and saw the theme, but thought it was not the usual Monday romp. Perhaps it was some “younger” clues/fill l like BAE, ME TOO. We had VIPER instead of Asp (I tried Adder).
We don’t call them “cash points” , but this Canadian always has to remember to enter ATM and not our ABM (Teller instead of Banking). I don’t see ARGO cornstarch here either. But I did know Canadian writer ALICE Munro.
I noted a winning Tic Tac Toe area in the NE with ME TOO, ACHOO, SOOTY, TATTOOS and CHO.
Favourite words today were ASKEW and DOVETAIL ( I am currently reading The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman).
Wishing you all a great day.
Yes Anon@8:50, i also wondered if we had a pangram today when I saw the X, Z, V. For want of a Q . . .
Good Morning:
We haven’t seen Doug’s byline in quite awhile but this offering seems serendipitous for Patti’s first puzzle as Editor-in-Chief. Welcome to you both! My only unknown was Omar and the solve was easy and quick, as is the Monday norm, although I needed the reveal to see the theme. We had two mini themes, one being creatures: Ant, Dove, Viper, Basset, Sniff, and Treat, and the other, an O parade: Echo, ISO, Cho, Acalpulco, Pinto, Me Too, Achoo, Trio, and Argo. We also had several fun duos with Macs/Esc, Basset/Sniff, Plain/Ritzy, Cho/Achoo, Ace/Ice, Tuft/Turf, IRA/Acct, and Face/Lips. CSOs to Lemony and Hahtoolah (UCONN), Oo (Thai), and Vidwan (Sari).
Thanks, Doug, for starting the week off on a fresh note and thanks, Boomer, for tickling our fancy, as usual. Glad your spirits remain positive and that you’re not too adversely affected by the latest chemo treatment.
We have some snow coming our way later today, not much but disheartening to see in mid-April, not to mention the cold temps! At least we have bright sunshine right now.
SS, did you happen to watch Dateline Friday night about the real-life Pam Hupp? It was a riveting two hours that added so much more background information on the players and events portrayed in the mini series. I was pleased to see that the dramatization was so factual and did not embellish or exaggerate Pam’s behavior. She was just as cunning, manipulative and evil as Reneé Zellwegger portrayed her. The DA’s behavior and continued denial of any wrong doing is beyond the Pale.
Have a great day.
Why doesn't my LA Times have the new editor's byline? Still says Rich and Joyce.
Fresh Start?
Started of a little harder than the Monday's I was used to,
but, it was sussable with the theme.
However, I fear for how hard the Saturday Stumper might be under Patti's reign...
Oh well,
One day at a time....
Boomer Can you say more about why you don't use ATMs? Our bank branch closed so we have no choice. What do you do instead?
Got the FRESH theme, but was mystified as I never heard of FRESH PRINCE. Am I the only one? Hand up never heard of FRUIT NINJA, TESSA, OMAR, ALICE.
I always assumed UCONN players were called HUSKIES because UCONN sounds like Yukon. Just learned that is not true. My father was a biology professor at UCONN and I have photos.
But I am eager to take advantage of THAI in the puzzle. Yesterday was THAI New Year and it was also our THAI neighbor friend Aom's birthday. We joined her at a local THAI temple that we didn't know existed. It is hidden on an orchid farm nearby us! How cool is that?
Here is my video of the Buddhist monks chanting at this THAI New Year festival yesterday.
Monks came all the way from Los Angeles to be a part of this little THAI celebration on the orchid farm! We also enjoyed some delicious THAI food that was part of the celebration.
From Yesterday:
Vidwan Thank you for explaining your seafood tastes and distastes.
AnonT Thank you for sharing your Ellis Island story that I am sure also involved STEERAGE.
Mondays are supposed to be easy. The northwest corner had me stumped for a while. Tessa was unknown and I never heard of Fruit Ninja or Omar Dorsey. A slow start.
AIR CONDITIONING is not just for the summer down here. It turns hot in March and stays that way through October.
Does anybody qualify for the Internal Revenue Service's program, FRESH START? Today is your day to file.
Picard, in the 90's (I think I have the right decade) there was a sitcom on TV called "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" staring (the now notorious) Will Smith. It's how he got his start in the industry, besides his earlier rap records. FYI.
Musings
-Don’t you just hate it when you have no chance at 1 Across on a Monday? Hey, I got over it!
-RAJ is fair because I know it. TESSA is not because I don’t! :-)
-If you get a FACE TATTOO you are making a statement that you may regret
-AIR CONDTIONING would have been a savior for my brother’s asthma in the 50’s
-The vehicle to the top of the ARCH is like riding in a washing machine
-The Kingston TRIO sang Take Her Out Of Pity in which they hoped someone would marry their PLAIN sister Sarah
-Good catch, CanadianEh!
-Extra Easter guest yesterday turned out to be no problem due to my wife’s common sense and calm under pressure.
SubGenius/Picard,
I am afraid the Fresh Prince/Will Smith debacle has finally caught up with the daily comics...
Printed today:
Wiley's, non sequitur take on it....
Stephan Pastis's Pearls before Swine take on it...
Ms. Irish Miss: I caught a little bit of the Dateline. Thank you for recalling I was watching it too. You say you were "pleased," where I would say "terrified" -- but I get your point (and agree with it) about the factualness.
I'm not sure with whom I am more angry: Pam, the investigators, or the DA.
Can we settle on a three-way tie?
My Dear unclefred: I saw your post this weekend about your second effort on Saturday's puzzle. I think you've merely underestimated my typing speed.
Anon @ 7:45 (aka SS).
Enjoyable Monday puzzle, Doug--many thanks. And so great to see you, Boomer, still feeling okay after your chemo. Thanks for the fun commentary, and keep taking good care of yourself. And welcome, Patti.
Got off to a good start with SARI and then the northwest corner--my constant start every day--slowly filled in.
Loved seeing that BASSETT hound get a TREAT in this puzzle.
UKE and URN turn up a lot in puzzles these days.
My eyes got a bit MISTY when I got that soft drizzle of MIST. What, no shout out for me today, Irish Miss?
Have a great week coming up, everybody!
Allow me an off-topic QOD on this IRS due date:
"What is the difference between a taxidermist and a tax collector? The taxidermist takes only your skin."
Mark Twain
SS @ 11:26 ~ I get your point about being terrified (even horrified) by these people and events. So often Hollywood “based on a true story” productions take unbridled license in the telling by adding to or exaggerating the people and situations. Based on what Dateline documented, this wasn’t the case with the The Thing About Pam series. As far as your three way tie: Pam is evil personified but she’s getting her just deserts; the Investigators were bumbling idiots, influenced by the DA ; the DA herself, who still maintains she did nothing wrong and that Russ is the guilty party. I’m not sure which is worse, her ignorance or her arrogance, but I’d like to see her get her just deserts someday.
Misty @ 11:43 ~ So sorry for missing your CSO today. I guess I’m still recouping from the Brunch Bunch yesterday of 36 Adults, 3 Children, and 1 Baby and wasn’t eagled-eyed enough to have Mist register! 🙃
A nice Monday-level PZL from Mr. Peterson. Thank you, good sir!
Thanks for the good write-ups, Boomer. We appreciate all that you do!
And thanks for the reminder of Tiny Tim's UKE. Those were strange times, eh?
~ OMK
_____________
DR: Three diagonals on the far side.
The central diag offers an anagram (10 of 15 letters) that calls for a respectful silence in appreciation of a well-endowed Señorita.
Yes, I mean...
"SHH...CHICHIS!"
Fascinating chanting video, Picard
Misty, I completely missed that CSO too, and…
MIST was an inkover except come to think of it I solved online
In case anyone else had no idea who PAM was here's the IMDB link
And here's the dateline version
WC
Thanks Doug for helping us START the week. And thank you Patti for a FRESH new face in the editorial ranks. I assume I'll be seeing your byline this coming Thursday. And thank you Boomer for a fine review and your courage in the face of adversity.
And special thanks to Rich for making this a special place to work. I hope you enjoy your retirement. Maybe you can get a gig reviewing crossword puzzles! (It will require a bit of pay cut however 😀).
As I'm still recovering from an Easter feast, I'll keep my comments brief:
Cheers!
Bill
FLN: finished yesterday's puzzle this morning, which was A TAD more difficult than today's. FIRed 'em both. Happy Easter and Passover everyone!
Hi All!
A FRESH START wish for Patti from Doug :-)
Actually, Patti posted on Twitter this morning "Funny how your best day and your worst day can be the same day" with an image of a paper showing Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis as editors. [cite: Tweet]
Boomer - I was sitting in traffic this morning and suddenly I was thinking of you. Why? It certainly had nothing to do with the large GraybaR truck sitting next to me.
Thanks for the expo and it's good to read the chemo isn't wearing you out completely.
A 'Q' short of a pangram as noticed by @8:50am too.
WO: ACAPoLCO (Hi Jinx!
ESPs: TESSA, OMAR, NICK, ALICE
Fav: I'll go with GIZA - it was amazing to see the pyramids & Sphinx.
I hate AUTO TUNE; everyone sounds the same -- crappy.
{A, B}
Cute DR.
Believe it or not, I'm still working so I gotta run.
Cheers, -T
FIR, with no problems, other than some names, which required perps. NICK is the only Jonas brother I can name. Got the reveal and the theme.
Welcome aboard (officially), Patti. Thanks for all the good times, Rich. Nice puzzle, Doug. Nice expo, Boomer, and glad your chemo isn’t taking its toll.
It's late, and I have to get up early tomorrow, so I guess I'll just print out the new puzzle and work on it, instead of getting some sleep. Typical....
Hola!
Oh! No! Mondays are a bane for me! I just realized I did not even do the puzzle. It's my day to volunteer at church and afterward I come home and nap. On top of that, allergies have me almost completely plugged and struggling to breathe.
Tomorrow I'm sure will be better.
Have a good night, all!
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