Friday, July 26, 2024, Katherine Baicker, Laura Dershewitz

Good morning, Cruciverbalists, Malodorous Manatee here with today's recap.  It is morning here but, fortunately, it's 5 o'clock somewhere because today's puzzle by Katherine Baicker and Laura Dershewitz requires a bit of experience with the language and customs of drinking whisky (or whiskey if you prefer potables other than Scotch).  It may have been appropriate to publish this puzzle tomorrow as July 27th is National Scotch Day!

Let's start with the reveal:

61 Across:  "Straight up, please," to match 17-, 25-, 37-, and 51-Across?:  MAKE IT NEAT.  In drinker's jargon, "NEAT" (or straight up) means with no ice.   At four places within the grid our co-constructors have removed the ICE in order to form creative and amusing answers to the clues.

Let's see how this "gimmick" is applied:

17 Across:  Orientation for new senators?: POL ACADEMY.  A learning place for politicians (POLs).  Before the removal:  POLICE ACADEMY

25 Across:  "Margaret won't be in the comedy showcase!"?: YOU HAVE NO CHO.  Comedienne Margaret Cho has scratched from the showcase.  Before the removal: YOU HAVE NO CHOICE

37 Across:  Exclamation when a product lives up to the hype?: THE PR IS RIGHT.  The public relations blitz was not just a lot of hot air.  Before the removal:  THE PRICE IS RIGHT

51 Across:  Tables and chairs that wobble?: OFF FURNITURE.  There is something wrong with the  furniture.  It's a bit OFF.  Before the removal: OFFICE  FURNITURE

Here is what the completed grid looks like:

Here are the rest of the clues/answers:

Across:

1. Light melody: LILT.

5. Singer Del Rey: LANA.  A frequent visitor these days and, yet, someone about whom this solver remain totally ignorant.  However, while walking around Venice,CA with Valerie I did see these posters:

9. Photographer Adams: ANSEL.  Nice shot.

14. Nice companion: AMIE.  Nice as in not mean?  No.  As in the French city.

15. Sister of Castor and Pollux: HELEN.

16. Raises or rises: REARS.  Here, Trigger REARS (rises).  I wonder if Trigger raised his children to do the same.

19. Possessed: OWNED.  Not a demonic reference.

20. "Way cool!": SO DOPE.  Slang.  Why does BITCHEN or GROOVY, or even PHAT, seem okay but not this?  Wait, don't answer that, please.    In an homage to the Seven Dwarfs, DOPEy is now followed by "What's Up, Doc".

21. "Wabbit" hunter: FUDD.  Elmer was too long.

22. AQI monitor: EPA.  Air Quality Index in the clue.

29. New England state: VERMONT.

31. Conclude: END.

32. __ Lingus: AER.  The Irish airline.

33. Theme park serviced by the Disney World monorail: EPCOT.  EPCOT opened on October 01, 1982.

34. Took to court: SUED.  I SUED the airlines for losing my luggage.  I lost my case.

36. IRS IDs: SSNS.  We are often asked to supply this even though we're told to never share it.

41. Pupil's place: IRIS.  Not a schoolhouse reference.  An eyeball reference.

43. Wee bit: IOTA.  A constructor's friend.

44. Needed a sick day: AILED.

47. Boxing Day mo.: DEC.

48. Part of a pod cast?: PEA.  Not a tech reference.  PEAs in a pod.

49. Q-Tip and Ice-T: RAPPERS.  Not the swab and the beverage.  Does Elmer listen to wappers?

55. Circular __: SAW.

56. Scull pair: OARS.  Before a surgery the anesthesiologist asked the patient if she'd like to be knocked out with gas or be hit over the head with a canoe paddle.  It was an ether/oar situation.

57. Reptiles in the logos of some dojos: COBRAS.

59. Muddle: MIXUP.

65. Shampoo brand since 1947: PRELL.

Pam Dawber - 1973

66. Correct spelling, say: EMEND.

67. Beltmaking tools: AWLS.  Not as in the old saying "ALLS well that ends well, I suppose."

68. Source of waste: HASTE.  As in the old saying "HASTE makes waste."

69. Movie night rooms: DENS.  Often clued with an ursine reference.

70. Nerd (out): GEEK.  Used as a verb in the clue although I am not sure why as the noun forms of each would have worked out the same.

Down:

1. Cozy cat seat: LAP.

LAPtop Cats

2. "Sez me": IMO.  In My Opinion

3. Smaller than sm.: LIL.  This one was a bit of a stretch.  Thanks, perps.

4. Bitter brews: TEAS.  Hand up for trying to make ALES work out. . . and it did at 63 Down.

5. Showed the door: LED  OUT.  Don't let it hit you.

6. First Hebrew letter: ALEPH.

7. Mythical lion's home: NEMEA.  The NEMEA lion was a legendary creature in Greek mythology that ravaged the area of Nemea. Its fur was impenetrable by the weapons of humans and hence, was unstoppable. It was considered to be the child of Typhon and Echidna, father and mother of all monsters.

8. "__ minute now ... ": ANY.

9. Word with poke or push: AROUND.

10. Fresh cut: NEW DO.  A hair style reference.

11. Beach homes?: SAND CASTLES.  With a tip of the hat to Jimi Hendrix.

12. Afore: ERE.

13. Acid initials: LSD.  Did you hear about the guy who got LSD and LDS mixed up?  Instead of going on a trip he went on a mission,.

15. Wore: HAD ON.  

18. University of South Dakota athlete: COYOTE.  Something of a universal mascot in SoCAl these days.

 

21. Italian luxury brand: FENDI.  PRADA and GUCCI would also have fit the allotted space.

22. Morn's opposite: EVE.  Morning / EVEning

23. Pizzazz: PEP.

24. Permafrost predators: ARCTIC FOXES.

26. Turn sharply: VEER.

27. __ of the woods mushroom: HEN.  Thanks, perps.

28. Alternatives: ORS.

30. Hardness scale name: MOHS.

34. Prepare for takeoff, maybe: SIT.  Huh?  Okay, no one stands for takeoff but this one is a huge stretch.

35. Katie Ledecky's team: Abbr.: USA.  An American Olympic swim team member.

36. Pickup alternative: SHIP.  A choice familiar to those who use, for example, Target or Walmart's websites.

38. Docking stations?: PIERS.  Not a tech reference.  A ship reference.  Nice placement.

39. Reddish horse: ROAN.

40. Watch in wonder: GAPE AT.

41. "Who wants cake?" response: I DO.  More often clued with a matrimonial reference.

42. Slo-mo reviewer: REF.  REFeree

45. Time worth studying: ERA.  What era is a musician in when she has not money.  The Baroque ERA.

46. Bargain footwear chain: DSW.

48. Red and blue: PURPLE.  Not the colors alone.  The colors together.

49. Flemish painter Peter Paul __: RUBENS.

50. Extra Extra Dry brand: ARRID.  A deodorant reference.

52. Server error?: FAULT.  A tennis reference.

53. Beginning of a famous boast: I CAME.  If Caesar spoke English.

54. Part of NFT: TOKEN.  Non Fungible TOKENs Explained

58. Unexpected hitch: SNAG.

59. Speed letters: MPH.  Miles Per Hour

60. Rollover subj.: IRA.  Individual Retirement Account

61. Larger than sm.: MED.  Small . MEDium / Large  The last of ten abbrevaitions (your criteria may vary) to be found in today's puzzle.

62. Fleece source: EWE.

63. Bitter brew: ALE.  The local bar ran out of ALE.  It was a bitter disappointment.

64. Judgy sound: TSK.  Often, we initially do not know if it'll be TSK or TUT.

Well, it's time now for yours truly to go grab a glass of ju and maybe eat a sl of cold pizza.  Have an n day, everyone.  Slainté !

_______________________________________________

Thursday, July 25, 2024, Keico Deuser

Party People

Today's constructor Keico Deuser is making her debut on the Corner with a simple, but clever play on two different meanings for the word PARTY.  Each of the theme clues are a type of party -- a celebration or gathering of people.  However the fill for each is a real or fictitious person that might be present at the gathering ...

17. Christmas party: SANTA CLAUS.  The party attending this party has the modern nickname for St. Nicholas of Myrna (March 15, 270 – December 6, 343 AD), the patron saint of children and a storied gift giver, whose feast day is celebrated in Western churches on December 6th.  Legend has it that he rescued three girls from being forced into prostitution by dropping a sack of gold coins through the window of their house each night for three nights so their father could pay a dowry for each of them.

Santa Claus

26. Slumber party: RIP VAN WINKLE.  The party attending this party is a character in a short story by the American author Washington Irving, first published in 1819. It follows a Dutch-American villager in colonial America named Rip Van Winkle who meets mysterious Dutchmen, imbibes their strong liquor and falls deeply asleep in the Catskill Mountains. He awakes 20 years later to a very changed world, having missed the American Revolution! 

Rip Van Winkle
Hunter Mountain Ski Lodge
Catskill Mountains

44. Halloween party: MICHAEL MYERS.  The party attending this party is a character from the slasher film series Halloween. He first appears in 1978 in John Carpenter's Halloween as a young boy who murders his elder sister, Judith Myers. Fifteen years later, he returns home to Haddonfield, Illinois, to murder more teenagers.  He has been featured in twelve films, as well as novels, video games, and comic books.  You wouldn't want to go trick or treating to his house💀.

60. Cocktail party: TOM COLLINS.  The party at this party is the name of a well known cocktail, which has a murky history.  After you've had a few of these it will get even murkier ... 😀 

Tom Collins cocktail

Here's the grid ...
 

Here's the rest ...

Across:

1. Cop to: ADMIT.  To confess guilt, perhaps to reduce a sentence -- "to cop a plea".  See 50A.

6. Of this clue, approve he would: YODA.  Yodaese.

10. Flows back: EBBS.

14. Previous: PRIOR.  Prior (or prioress) is also an ecclesiastical title for a superior in some religious orders. The word is derived from the Latin for "earlier" or "first".

15. Brief analysis?: EVAL.  Abbr. spelling of EVALUATION.

16. Blind strip: SLAT.

17. [Theme clue].

19. Unit of lipstick: TUBE.

20. Fuel made from corn: ETHANOL.  Biofuels explained.  In addition to fueling vehicles it is also used to fuel some parties -- see e.g. 60A.  Here's the chemical formula for Ethanol ...

21. Beverage with tapioca pearls: BOBA TEA.  AKA Boba tea (aka bubble tea, pearl milk tea, bubble milk tea, tapioca milk tea) is a tea-based drink that originated in Taiwan in the early 1980s and spread rapidly throughout Asia. Taiwanese immigrants brought it to the United States in the 1990s, initially in California, through regions including Los Angeles County.

23. Winter coat?: SNOW.

25. Many an island in the South Pacific: ATOLL.

26. [Theme clue].

32. Starting squad: A TEAM.

33. "Good Omens" co-writer Gaiman: NEIL.  Good Omens is a fantasy comedy television series created by Neil Gaiman based on his and Terry Pratchett's 1990 novel.  Michael Sheen and David Tennant lead a large ensemble cast that also includes Jon Hamm, Miranda Richardson, Michael McKean, Derek Jacobi, Brian Cox, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Frances McDormand as the voice of God, who narrates the series.  Here's a trailer ...

34. Couple: DUO.

37. Pasta filling, sometimes: MEAT.

38. Popped with a low blow: KNEED.  Ouch!

40. Source of a low blow?: TUBA. This tune is usually played on a 4 letter instrument favored by crossword constructors, but here it is lowered by two octaves ...

41. Justin Trudeau and Christopher Luxon, for short: PMS.  The Prime Ministers of Canada (CSO CanadianEh!) and New Zealand respectively.

Justin Trudeau

Christopher Luxon

42. Degs. for filmmakers: MFAS.  Masters of Fine Arts.  This article doesn't say whether they got MFAS, but here are 8 film makers who went to film school.

43. Call for pizza, say: ORDER.

44. [Theme clue].

47. Professionals who might bug people: SPIES.

50. Impassioned request: PLEA.

51. Seemingly unbeatable foe: NEMESIS.  While we tend to think of a nemesis as the bad guy (e.g. Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes), in ancient Greek religion and myth, Nemesis was the goddess who personified divine justice and retribution for the sin of hubris; arrogance before the gods.  

Justice (Dike, on the left) and
Divine Vengeance (Nemesis, right)
 pursuing a criminal murderer
 Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, 1808

54. Get the big picture: ENLARGE.

59. Maroon 5 lead singer Levine: ADAM.  Maroon 5 is an American pop rock band from Los Angeles, California. It consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Adam Levine, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, lead guitarist James Valentine, drummer Matt Flynn, keyboardist PJ Morton and multi-instrumentalist and bassist Sam Farrar. Here's a little Sugar from their fifth album V ...
 

60. [Theme clue].

62. Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, say: GAGA.  People are going gaga over the game of gaga these days.  Here's one of my grandsons on the left getting ready to score the winning point in the gaga pit at Catholic Family Land in Ohio ...

63. Glutinous glob: CLOT.

64. D sharp equivalent: EFLAT.  Here's the E FLAT key signature.   

65. Whole lot: SLEW.

66. Border lines?: HEMS.

67. Black Sea resort: YALTA.

Down:

 1. Choir section: APSE.  Do Keico/Patti want us to think of  ALTO?  The term APSE generally refers to a semi-circular section of a church, such as the sanctuary in the front of the church, or smaller niches along the sides, typically containing statues of saints.  Below is a floor plan for a cathedral, showing the sanctuary in grey.  If the sanctuary is large enough, there may be space for a choir, but the space most commonly associated with choirs is the choir loft in the rear or one side of the church, where the organ is usually placed.

APSE

2. "Dang it!": DRAT.

3. Ho Chi __ City: MINH.  Formerly known as SAIGON, the capital of then South Viet Nam, it is the most populous city in today's Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

4. Crumb: IOTA.

5. Classic Pontiac: TRANS AM.  Here's a 1978 Trans Am for sale for only $89,999 ...

1978 Pontiac Trans Am

6. Like many a school bus: YELLOW.  Some of them are magic ... 

  The Magic School Bus

7. Egg cells: OVA.  Today's Latin lesson.

8. Mark on a bingo card: DAUB.  I ran this by the triceratops and the pigeons and they weren't buying it, so I Googled "bingo" and found this Wiki, which led me to the following YouTube by Ms. Delta Bingo.  It turns out that when you're playing a high stakes game like bingo, every second counts ...

9. "On top of which ... ": ALSO.

10. Lot of wealth?: ESTATE.  A very big lot. 😀

11. Popeye's rival: BLUTO.  What a difference an apostrophe makes.  Last week Popeyes' rival was KFC (see also 38D).  This week Popeye's rival is Bluto ... 

Mr. Bluto

12. Genesis locale: BABEL.  The construction of the Tower of Babel is described in  Genesis 11:1–9.  God interpreted this project as a sin of pride, as the people were attempting to reach heaven without His assistance.  To prevent this he confounded their speech, such that they could no longer understand each other, with the result that they scattered to the ends of the Earth.  Among other meanings this story explains the origin of languages.  

The Tower of Babel
Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1563

13. Terrific bargain: STEAL.

18. Nutmegger's st.: CONN.  Nutmegger is a nickname for people from the US state of Connecticut. The official nickname for Connecticut is "The Constitution State", as voted in 1958 by the Connecticut state legislature; however, "The Nutmeg State" is an unofficial nickname for the state, hence the nickname "Nutmegger".  The exact reason for this is shrouded in history, but here are some theories.

22. Word with hard or soft: BALL.

24. Apple often used to make cider: WINESAP.  Winesap apples are a cultivar of unknown origin, dating at least to American colonial times. Its apples are sweet with a tangy finish. They are used for eating, cooking, and are especially prized for making cider.

Winesap Apple

26. X Games launch point: RAMP.  This one is a little subtle and I got it on perps. The X Games are a series of action sports events founded by ESPN Inc. and owned by MSP Sports Capital, Inc since 2022.  The X Games have been held all over the world and typically include sports such as skateboarding, BMX, freestyle motocross, skiing and snowboarding.  Apparently the launch points for several of these sports are called RAMPS.

27. "Unexpected __ in bagging area": ITEM.  You may hear this phrase if you are using self-service check-out in a grocery store.  If the system detects an increase in the weight in one of the bags in the bagging area, without a preceding ITEM having been scanned for payment, a friendly voice will pop-up to remind you.  During our recent visit to Cleveland we were buying some groceries and heard the exact same voice during check-out., presumably originating from the same point-of-sale software we use back in Baltimore.

28. Pair in a pod: PEAS.

29. Factory tub: VAT.

30. Word that indicates a name change: NEE.

31. "Diary of a Wimpy __": KID.  Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an American children's book series and media franchise created by American author and cartoonist Jeff Kinney. The series follows Greg Heffley, a middle-schooler who illustrates his daily life in a diary (although he insists that it is a journal).  Here are the first four books in the series ...

34. "Seriously, man!?": DUDE.

35. Superlative prefix: UBER.  Today's German lesson: ABOVE.

36. Couple in a boat: OARS.

38. Company whose X account only follows some Spice Girls and seven guys named Herb: KFC.  Here's story of the viral legend who cracked KFC’s hilarious code.

@edgette22 on the Kentucky Colonel's back 

39. "Don't bother": NAH.

40. Tackle: TRY.

42. Fail to notice: MISS.

43. Walter who moved the Dodgers to Los Angeles: O'MALLEY.  Walter Francis O'Malley (October 9, 1903 – August 9, 1979) was an American sports executive who owned the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers team in Major League Baseball from 1950 to 1979. In 1958, as owner of the Dodgers, he brought major league baseball to the West Coast, moving the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles despite the Dodgers being the second most profitable team in baseball from 1946 to 1956.  In 2008, O'Malley was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame for his contributions to and influence on the game of baseball.

44. Granny, to some: MEEMAW.  "Meemaw", like "Mamaw", "Mimah" and various other Southern US expressions for grandmother or mother, ultimately derives from Acadian (Cajun) or Louisiana French, in which the French maman ('mother') is pronounced more or less as "m'maw".   This is what Sheldon calls his grandmother on TBBT ...

45. Puts in a seat: ELECTS.

46. Host before Fallon: LENO.  James Douglas Muir Leno (born April 28, 1950) is an American television host, writer and comedian. After doing stand-up comedy for years, he became the host of NBC's The Tonight Show from 1992 until 2009 and, due to some scheduling conflicts at NBC, again from 2010 to 2014.  That year, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.  Here he is in 1987 being interviewed by the host before him ...

47. Bumps in the road: SNAGS.

48. One of two on a tricycle: PEDAL.

49. Instagram upload: IMAGE.

52. Urge: ITCH.

53. Worn-down part of a shoe: SOLE.  Or a flat fish ...

Dover Sole

55. __ Romeo: ALFA.  CSO to -T.  I'll bet that's how he swept DW off her feet!

1990 Alfa Romeo Spider
$23,990 - 51,440 miles

56. Streamlet: RILL.  Also a verb: "to flow in a small stream; to trickle".

57. Tiny pest: GNAT.

58. "¿Cómo __?": ESTA.  Today's Spanish lesson: "HOW YA DOIN'?"

61. May celebrant: MOM.

Cheers,
Bill

And as always, thanks to Teri for proof reading and for her constructive criticism.

waseeley

Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Michael Schlossberg

 DOGHOUSE

I am pleased to see a puzzle that is a standard 15x15 grid, with no circles, a SLEW of "quoted" clues, only a handful of proper names - but - we have a balance of thirteen 3LWs in both the Across and Down clues still.  Mr. Schlossberg has appeared before at the corner, dating as far back as 2019, as far as I can see.  The construction itself is a bit odd, I must admit, with a "*" theme answer starting us off at 1A.; enclosed in the parentheses are the necessary "parts" one would assemble to complete the "project" for your pet.  Those theme answers, with the centered reveal to start;

38. Labors of love, perhaps, and what the answers to the starred clues are?: PET PROJECTS

1. *Messy place [wire mesh, posts, fasteners]: PIGPEN - I had PIG STY to start

20. *Area with little privacy [candy jar, rocks, aerator, water]: GOLDFISH BOWL - Geez, I hope that's a BIG candy jar

Klaus of American Dad !

57. *Dull and repetitive job [cardboard, dowel, popsicle sticks, glue, scissors]: HAMSTER WHEEL - this clue/answer doesn't quite jibe for me; not quite sure how to phrase it

A trippy Monster Magnet song; lyric @ 0:54

71. *Irresistible thing [seeds, soil, water, sunlight]: CATNIP - I think you all know my "catnip"

And one more "Doghouse" reference. . . .

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

7. Fuss: ADO

10. Barracks bosses: Abbr.: SGTs - I saw "Barack's" at first, so I thought "huh~?" Aliens~?

14. Verdi opera: OTELLO - the "Italian" adaptation of the Bard; Guiseppe Verdi = "Joe Green" ( thanks, Victor Borge )

15. Pride or lust: SIN - se7en was a great movie

16. Time in office: TERM - Barack did two "terms"

17. Lose feeling: GO NUMB - my bum went numb as I had to deliver and pick-up pipes 1100 miles round-trip; the place - a renovation shop in Alliance OH, A.R. Schopp's Sons Co., making organs and pipes for over 100yrs

18. Winter sport vehicle: ICE CANOE

22. Cuppa, to a Brit: TEA - I occasionally go for a "spot" of tea

25. "Get it?": "SEE~?"

26. Fair-hiring letters: EEO - Equal Employment Opportunity

27. Director Brooks: MEL - Comic movie genius

28. Genesis figure: ADAM

30. Michael of "Juno": CERA

32. Depend (on): RELY

33. Group summoned to a courthouse: JURY POOL - there's something "off" about the wording of this clue/answer, too - like jurOR would be better. . . .

36. Country duo Maddie & __: TAE - no clue; their website

41. Pup's bark: YAP - not YIP today

42. Landscape alternative: PORTRAIT - photos and printing orientation

45. Pine (for): ACHE - my first fill was LONG - Bzzzt~!

48. Uncork, say: OPEN - see 54D.

50. Gumbo pod: OKRA

51. "Please explain": "WHY~?"

52. Actress de Armas: ANA - filled via perps; her IMDb - once I looked, I realized she was the hot "Bond girl" in No Time To Die - I loved her scenes~!

53. Qty.: AMounT

56. Body part examined by an otolaryngologist: EAR - a long way to go for a 3LW; see 35D.

61. Insinuation: INNUENDO - OK, but what do you really mean~?

62. Dresser part: DRAWER

66. Shakespearean king: LEAR - more of the Bard

67. As well: TOO

68. Camden Yards ballplayer: ORIOLE - Waaay back when I was about 8yrs old, I thought this team had the coolest logo on their hats

69. French fashion magazine: ELLE

70. "Lisa From Temecula" sketch show, for short: SNL - crossword sketch show = Ektorp, and #13  for 3LW in the ACROSS

DOWN:

1. 1990s fad disc: POG - I was too old for this; essentially collectible cardboard discs

2. "How was __ know?": "I TO"

3. Lead-in to Xer, Yer, and Zer: GENeration

4. Stop (up): PLUG - I had CLOG, then STOP, duh, because of STY, and it messed up my NW

5. "__ World": "Sesame Street" feature: ELMO'S

6. Highborn: NOBLE

7. "You wish!": "AS IF~!"

8. More fraught: DICIER

9. Many a kayak: ONE-SEATER

 

may the "oars" be with you

10. Wild guess: STAB - or WAG, if you're doing the crossword

11. Biological map subject: GENOME

12. Mortar-spreading tool: TROWEL - and what some women use to apply makeup

13. Like some compost bins: SMELLY - I suppose it would "smell", but is it smell-Y~? The kitchen garbage, that's a different story. . . .

19. Comedian Margaret: CHO - becoming a crossword staple

21. Interior design: DÉCOR

22. __ Mahal: TAJ - I uploaded an image of my "Garage Mahal" sign a couple of months ago

23. College URL ender: EDU

24. 50+ group: AARP - technically, I qualify - but I am resisting the fact that I am "OLD"

29. "Nonsense!": "MY EYE~!"

31. Get hitched in Vegas, perhaps: ELOPE

32. Hip again: RETRO - I noticed that yoga pants are going "retro" now. . . .

Dare I say, "Bell Bottoms"~?

34. School org.: PTA

35. Foes: OPPONENTS - and a short way to get to a loooong answer

37. Play a part: ACT

39. "The Wolf of Wall Street" Oscar nominee Hill: JONAH - perps and WAGs

40. Sushi pairing: SAKE - Dah~!  I tried the NORI first

43. Golden yrs. fund: IRA - I have two; one is funded by the proceeds from my investment account to avoid taxation - works for me

44. Road goo: TAR

45. Some time: AWHILE

46. Big name in perfume: CHANEL

I am "intimidated" by these ads with ripped men;

I feel like I'm "not allowed" to wear this cologne

47. Church songbook: HYMNAL

49. "Excuse me?": "PARDON~?"

52. Noshed: ATE

54. French red wine: MEDOC - I quit drinking, ergo I don't drink wine; I was unfamiliar with this answer. . . .

 

. . . but 1971 was a great year to be "born". . . .

55. __ firma: TERRA

58. "Yeah, I guess so": "SURE."

59. Cold-weather fabric: WOOL

60. Milk, in French: LAIT - Frawnche, but I knew this

63. Came in first: WON

64. Yalie: ELI - Connecticut~!

65. Agt.: REP - #13 in the DOWN

Splynter