google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Sunday February 25, 2024 Ed Sessa

Gary's Blog Map

Feb 25, 2024

Sunday February 25, 2024 Ed Sessa

Theme: "Free Booze" - BOO is added to each theme entry.

22. Air freshener in the monkey house?: BABOON DEODORANT. Ban deodorant.

31. Ready to take reservations?: FIT FOR A BOOKING. Fit for a king.

53. Container for firecracker flowers?: BOOMING VASE. Ming vase.

69. Jump-start?: BOOSTING OPERATION. Sting operation.

88. Apparel for linksbabies?: GOLF BOOTEES. Golf tees.

102. (Soup or salad) and (chicken or fish), e.g.?: BOOLEAN CUISINE. Lean Cuisine.

120. Train conductor's "That's the end of the ride for you!"?: GET OFF MY CABOOSE. Get off my case.

This would have been a perfect Halloween's puzzle, but it's a Tuesday last year when Ed sent in this puzzle idea. Thursday this year.

I love the title and theme clues. "Jum-start" is so simple, so perfect.

Across:

1. God often depicted in a helmet: ARES.


5. "Gracias a la vida" singer Mercedes: SOSA. Don't know her. Argentine singer. From Wikipedia:
"Her music made people hail her as the "voice of the voiceless ones". She was often called "the conscience of Latin America." She died in 2009.


9. Fire sign: SMOKE.

14. Marble piece: SLAB.

18. Lopsided win: ROMP.

19. K-12 appropriate: EL HIElementary High. This is my old high school. 200-meter tracks.

 

20. Dust-up: RUN-IN.

21. Fuel: STOKE.

25. Artist Matisse: HENRI.

26. Secondhand music purchase: USED CD.

27. Boxer Laila: ALI.

28. "__ you see that!?": DID.

29. "Game of Thrones" beast: DRAGON.

30. D or C, in D.C.: STREET.

34. IJBOL equivalent: LOL. I Just Burst Out Laughing.

36. Jiffy: SEC.

37. Before now: AGO.

38. Pink shade: CORAL.

42. Strange: ODD.

45. Doohickey: THING.

48. College focus: MAJOR. What did you study in college, Splynter?

56. Fun time: GAS.

57. Jiffy __: LUBE.

58. Pest in a cloud: GNAT.

59. The Mel-Tones lead singer: TORME.

60. Rooked: HAD.

61. Add yeast to: LEAVEN.

63. Broken mirror, for some: BAD OMEN.

65. Better than expected, except on the links: ABOVE PAR. I broke 90 a few times at Cedar Creek, a very ladies-friendly course here in Minnesota. Very flat.

68. Storm center: EYE.

73. Tina Fey's former show, for short: SNL.

75. Hunter-gatherer period: STONE AGE.

76. Low bar?: GIN MILL. I did not know the meaning of "gin mill". Cheap bar.

79. Takes as one's own: CO-OPTS.

81. White Claw container: CAN. Never had this.



82. __ seas: SEVEN.

85. Pelvic bones: ILIA.

86. With the bow, in music: ARCO.

87. One hanging around a cave: BAT.

90. Used the oven: BAKED.

92. Mushroom in miso soup: ENOKI.  Mushroom and tofu. Classic miso soup.



94. __ Jima: IWO.

95. Edition: ISSUE.

96. Actress Thurman: UMA.

98. O'er and o'er again: OFT.

100. Brynner of "The King and I": YUL.

110. Ready for fresh paint: PRIMED.

115. Smithy fixtures: ANVILS.

116. Co. interested in net neutrality: ISP.

117. Potassium-rich fruit: FIG. I served Tom Pepper fresh figs a while ago. He liked the taste. He also liked ripe papaya slices, but could not stand green papaya salad.

118. Patti who won a Tony as Evita: LUPONE.

119. French royal: REINE.

123. Took some courses: DINED.

124. Sports venue: ARENA.

125. "Power Book III: Raising Kanan" actor Omar: EPPS.

126. Big barrel: DRUM.

127. Husky's load: SLED.

128. __ longlegs: DADDY.

129. Sports figure: STAT.

130. Bishoprics: SEES.

Down:

1. "Identical Twins" photographer Diane: ARBUS.
 

2. Use the oven: ROAST.

3. Campfire remnant: EMBER.

4. Fine English china: SPODE.

5. Phrase on a mailing label: SEND TO.

6. Hardly fresh: OLD.

7. Harvest bundle: SHEAF.

8. Remoulade kin: AIOLI. Never had remoulade or aioli or tartar.



9. "All seats taken" sign: SRO.

10. "The Sea, the Sea" novelist: MURDOCH. Iris.



11. Studio sign: ON AIR.

12. "Yes and no": KINDA.

13. Doc with a tongue depressor: ENT.

14. Tuna cut: STEAK.

15. Sound heard in libraries?: LONG I.  The i sound in "libraries".

16. Ohio tire city: AKRON.

17. Person: BEING.

21. Psychedelic fungus, casually: SHROOM.

23. Spots on a peacock feather: OCELLI.

24. Morse clicks: DITS.

29. Fetch player: DOG.

32. Swanky do: FETE.

33. Luggage: BAGS.

35. Access, as a network: LOG ONTO.

38. Legendary NYC punk club: CBGB.

39. Actress Chaplin: OONA.

40. Reason for a detour: ROADBLOCK.

41. "Are not!" retort: AM TOO.

43. TiVo, for one: DVR.

44. Power generator: DAM.

46. "__ it my all": I GAVE.

47. Four-time presidential candidate Ralph: NADER.

49. __ mode: A LA.

50. Youth: JUVENILES.

51. Follow directions: OBEY.

52. "The False Mirror" painter Magritte: RENE.



54. Arms treaty subjects, briefly: N TESTS.

55. One who avoids all animal products except fish: SEAGAN. I only knew the term "pescetarian". My sister-in-law Connie is one.

60. Words spoken with crossed fingers: HOPE SO.

61. "__ USA": NPR program hosted by Maria Hinojosa: LATINO.


62. Environmentalist Brockovich: ERIN.

64. Lion's share: MOST.

66. Cranberry field: BOG.

67. Bobbed hairstyle: PAGEBOY.

70. Like some Peruvian ruins: INCAN.

71. "Terrif!": NEATO.

72. Glosses over: OMITS.

73. Wound cover: SCAB.

74. Filmmaker Ephron: NORA.

77. In __ of: LIEU.

78. Cut with a beam: LASE.

80. "The Last Jedi" pilot Dameron: POE.


83. New Haven Ivy Leaguer: ELI.

84. Armed forces org.: VFW.

87. Burrito morsel: BEAN.

88. Some image files: GIFS.

89. Soothing massage option: OIL RUB.

91. Crossed swords: DUELED.

93. Water feature with ornamental fish: KOI POND.

97. Some humanities degs.: MAS.

99. Spat: TIFF.

101. Batting ninth: UP LAST.

102. Medieval poets: BARDS.

103. "The Rookie" actress Melissa: O'NEIL.


104. Ewe-like: OVINE.

105. Like loose-leaf paper: LINED.

106. Cutlass model: CIERA.

107. Spanish pronoun: USTED.

108. City in southern France: NIMES.

109. Country in two continents: EGYPT.

111. Apple players: IPODS.

112. Julianne of "Still Alice": MOORE.

113. Follow: ENSUE.

114. Judges: DEEMS.

120. Josh of "Frozen": GAD. He voiced Olaf.

121. Actress Wray: FAY.

122. Audit pro: CPA.

C.C.




28 comments:

  1. After staring hard at the first themed answer, I got the gimmick and that made the rest of the puzzle easier. There were a few obscurities, but not that many and, for the most part, the puzzle was fair and not that difficult to solve. FIR, so I’m happy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. FIR, but erased ere for AGO, adopts for CO-OPTS, forges for ANVILS, and ashes for EMBERS.

    Today is:
    NATIONAL CLAM CHOWDER DAY (Manhattan, or New England? Most places put too much starch stiffening in the New England variety for my liking)
    NATIONAL CHOCOLATE COVERED NUT DAY (oh yeah. I may need a 12-step program for my nut addiction. And my chocolate addiction.)

    Kentucky hung 117 points on the heavily-favored Alabama basketball team yesterday in a 22-point ROMP. They were ahead by 30-something when Coach Cal put in the reserves.

    I don't get the "appropriate" in K-12 appropriate. I know that many Cornerites don't think the term ELHI is appropriate. I spent 13 years in one, and no one has ever accused me of being "appropriate."

    Find a mechanic you can trust. It won't cost much more to get the oil changed there, and there is far less danger of your car being damaged, or you being sold stuff your car doesn't need. No dealer-stealer, no Jiffy LUBE if you can avoid it.

    The Eurythmics had a big hit with Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This):
    "I've traveled the world and the SEVEN seas
    Everybody's lookin' for something
    Some of them want to use you
    Some of them want to get used by you
    Some of them want to abuse you
    Some of them want to be abused

    Most golfers have GOLF BOOTIES over the heads of their "woods." (Woods aren't made of wood any longer, and irons aren't made of iron, either.)

    Don't most docs use tongue depressors? Even Zoё's vet has them. (I suppose that my proctologist doesn't, but I really can't see what he's doing back there.)

    I thought all mushrooms were slangily called SHROOMs.

    I had PAGE BOY yesterday instead of paladin. Right fill, just a day early.

    I don't think of "glosses over" as being the same as OMITS, but I'm probably wrong about that. But my mind is like concrete - all mixed up and set.

    Thanks to Mr. Ed for another fine challenge, and to CC for another interesting review.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good morning!

    Got the theme early, and that definitely helped with the solve. Finished in normal Sunday time -- par, not ABOVE PAR. Thanx, Dr. Ed. Enjoyed your expo, C.C. (Looks like you went to a large high school. Our town's little school, which covered grades 1-12 [ELHI], had a total 200 students.)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi there~!

    To answer your question, C.C., sadly, the only thing I really studied in college was "Drinking". I had planned on going to film school out of high school, but was 'not allowed'. I struggled for years to figure out where and what I was supposed to be, finally got a degree in AutoCAD back in 2006. Who knew it would be the reason I ended up working for the Pipe Organ company~!?

    Today's puzzle was fun - I like the "add letters"-type themes - in fact, I have an idea of my own; anyone here at the Corner care to join with me in getting it constructed and published~?

    Splynter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Splinter - I'd suggest talking to the lady who asked you that question.

      Delete
  5. Jinx in Norfolk re: National Clam Chowder Day I make Rhode Island clam chowder, clear broth, no dairy or tomatoes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good Morning:

    Ed Sessa is one of my favorite constructors, so even though I'm ambivalent about Sunday puzzles in general, I was glad to see his byline and the solve proved to be enjoyable. The title was perfect and after the first themer, the overall gimmick was quite obvious. I stumbled over Rout/Romp, Adopts/Co-opts, and Cask/Drum and a few unknowns slowed me down, as well: Ocelli, CBGB, Seagan, and O'Neil, Poe, and Sosa, all as clued. I knew what was called for at CBGB, but I can never remember the initials. Speaking of initials, there were lots of TLWs today but the vast majority (2/3 +) were actual words, not abbreviations or initialisms, thus far less intrusive/noticeable.

    Thanks, Dr. Sessa, for a fun Sunday solve and I hope you've recovered from the devastation of Hurricane Ian and thanks, CC, for the concise and cheery review. Always enjoy the "foodie" slant and insider's comments.

    Jinx @ 5:45 ~ It's hard to find a New England Clam Chowder that hits the mark on too thin vs too thick, even in Maine. I've made a version from America's Test Kitchen that uses dried potato flakes as a thickener. Unfortunately, I didn't have these on hand so the finished product wasn't as thick as I would have liked. However, it was so flavorful that I didn't mind. Next time, though I'll make sure to use the flakes. Sacrilege though it may be to say, I don't like Manhattan style at all! 🤣

    Have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hola!

    Easy like Sunday morning! I hear a song there but in fact, it describes this puzzle. There wasn't any of the usual obscurity and most of the phrases made sense. Even the unknown names like MURDOCH and ARBUS perped easily. Others like NADER, MOORE, and LUPONE I knew and filled quickly. I saw Patti LUPONE on Broadway in "Gypsy". She was great!

    SOSA is a common surname in Spanish but might be obscure for non-Spanish speakers. I believe there is a baseball player by that name.

    "One hanging round a cave" BAT, was my favorite clue and answer.

    A POE that is not Edgar Alan? Live and learn.

    Have a super Suday, everyone!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are referring to Mr Sammy Sosa, baseball player and home run hitter.

      Delete
  8. Took 17:43 today for me to book this one.

    I didn't know one of today's actress (Oneil) but I knew the other two (Moore & Oona), and I didn't know the other female clue/answers (the photographer, the NPR hostess, & the Argentinean singer). To no one's surprise, I struggled with today's French and Spanish lessons. I also didn't know/remember ocelli, Ciera, or spode.

    I share Ms. Irish Miss's ambivalence of Sunday puzzle.

    ReplyDelete
  9. FIR. There were way too many proper names for my liking. And I wonder who else threw down bad luck before bad omen for broken mirror?
    I partially got the themes as having boo in them, but failed to see the phrase that remained until I got here. That didn't hurt or help with the solve. I still found the puzzle to have a bit of bite in it. But it's done, so I'm pleased.

    ReplyDelete
  10. FIR in 44:06 with all the same ROADBLOCKs that IM☘️ stated, plus ARBUS and MURDOCH, but it all came together with perp help. A little higher difficulty level than a typical Sunday, but I always enjoy an Ed S offering.

    A company from Maine “Bar Harbor” makes a variety of chowders, the New England is quite delicious, very condensed, but the directions tell you to add milk and/or water to thin it to your liking.

    Thank you C.C. for explaining it all!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I almost blew the NW when I tried ashEs for EMBER for 3D.

    Best theme entry was "GETOFFMYCABOOSE".

    Thanks, Ed for a great variation of your favorite themes. A bow to C.C. for her usual fine analysis.

    I enjoy Sunday puzzles because they don't go too far out on the clue limb for misdirection or esoteric references.

    Beat the earnings heat, stay in school and learn how to stay cool.

    Buttercup.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, yes, I did FIR. No Google but I did make certain that Monseur Matisse's first name was HENRI.

      Delete
  12. Musings
    -Seeing the BOO’s was easy and then I saw the next level! Dr. Ed never fails.
    -I took BOOLEAN algebra but today I learned a different side to it
    -CABOOSES have gone the way of the buggy whip
    -I suspect that SOSA was one of the fills that were not Ed’s. Other candidates?
    -A man bought a JIFFY LUBE here in town and tried to operate without paying the franchise fee.
    -I intentionally broke mirrors, spilled salt and walked under ladders in my physics classes.
    -What SRO tickets get you in SOFI stadium
    -The debate continues whether NADER’s candidacy cost Al Gore the 2000 election
    -Every episode of Highway Patrol, opened with dramatic music and a helicopter flight over a ROAD BLOCK
    -I was surprised to see “double-O” entries of AM TOO and COOPTED in the puzzle

    ReplyDelete
  13. YooperPhil @ 9:45 ~ I have tried numerous chowders, canned and frozen (supposedly authentic) and have found all of them to be either lacking in clams or containing clams that are very, very tough. My solution was to make my own! 😉

    ReplyDelete
  14. IM ☘️ ~ I think the best NE chowder I’ve had came from Legal Seafood in Boston, but as far as the canned variety, if you haven’t tried Bar Harbor, it’s pretty authentic and no shortage of clams. (But your homemade is probably better than all 😊)

    ReplyDelete
  15. We were pescetarian for years (until we gave up eating fish and went fully veg), but like C.C., never heard of SEAGAN. Our eldest daughter traveled alone to New Zealand after college (almost two decades AGO) and came back with the news that we were "aquarian," a nice word for our diet that we never adopted. Great puzzle today! Many thanks to Ed, Patti, and C.C.

    ReplyDelete
  16. A fun, if long, FIR. Lots of unknowns, but perps were fair and WAGs were lucky. Clever clues, many Aha! moments, and a great feeling of accomplishment at the finish line. Sure nice to see Dr. Ed again. My only nit was the clue for VFW. As a life member, we are Veterans of the Armed Forces, not a part of them!

    ReplyDelete
  17. BobB - I'll have to try it if I'm ever in your part of the woods.

    I'll have to look for some of that Bah Hahbah chowder.

    H.Gary - I think most trainmen say good riddance. They called them "crummys" because RR owners were loath to spend money on non-revenue rolling stock.

    ReplyDelete
  18. YooperPhil @ 12:35 ~ I have had both Bar Harbor and Legal Seafood chowders, plus many others and have been disappointed in them all. Perhaps I'm spoiled by having sampled so many great chowders in Maine. OTOH, maybe I'm just too finicky! 🤣

    ReplyDelete
  19. I didn't FIR but I enjoyed it. I too put in ashes then realized that wasn't going to cut it. I also had "bad luck" before "omen". The NW corner got me. I didn't know "spode". A little more time and I would have gotten it but I wanted to read CC's review so that was that. GC

    ReplyDelete
  20. As has been noted many times, one person's area of knowledge might be completely unknown to another. I immediately knew SPODE but had trouble with DRAGON as I have not seen Game of Thrones but it perped ncely.

    And although miso soup is not something I really know, we have seen it in puzzles enough that I could fill ENOKI. For me that is the wonderful thing about crosswords, even at my advanced age I learn so much.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Super Sunday. Thanks for the fun Ed and C.C.
    I FIRed online and saw the BOOze and remaining phrases early in the solve.

    Hand up for Ashes before EMBERS.
    I changed S to C for CIERA.
    Unknown names perped (plus OCELLI which I have seen here before but couldn’t remember).
    I saw IJBOL as UBOL and thought it had a connection to soccer. LOL, Thanks for explaining.
    And of course, this Canadian did not know VFW.

    Wishing you all a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Fun, if slightly tough, Sunday puzzle--many thanks, Ed. And your commentaries are always helpful, C.C.--thanks for those too.

    As soon as I saw ROAST I started hoping for a food theme. Not a lot, it turned out, but it was still nice to get a STEAK, and a chance to add some yeast to LEAVEN, but I'd rather avoid a GIN MILL, though having some ENOKI would be nice, Then BAKED came along, and CUISINE, and so by the time we got near the end, we DINED.

    Well, it's noon time, time for me to get some lunch.

    Have a great Sunday, everybody.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I like Ed Sessa's puzzles and this was no exception.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Boo! I almost got Dr. Ed's done until the Rio Grande Valley. The triple side-by-side of GAD, CIERA, and USTED stumped me. GAD and USTED were not known and even with DADDY longlegs and ARENA filled, the only Olds Cutless I could think of was the 442. BOOLEAN__INE was left.

    SOSA, LOL, DRAGON, ISP, ARBUS, MURDOCH, LONG I, OCELLI, SEAGAN, LATINO, POE, O'NEIL, NIMES- other unknowns filled by perps.

    GIN MILL- growing up we had a neighbor who moved from NYC. He said there was a 'gin mill' on every block where he grew up in Brooklyn.

    ABOVE PAR- absolutely every single time I played. The three courses I played were all PGA Tour courses. Lakewood until 1988, English Turn until 2005, and TPC since then. Best score ever was a 77 at Lakewood. Never broke 90 at English Turn. Usually 90-95 at TPC. The greens are not for hackers like me. TPC has exactly ONE hole-#4- that you can actually roll the shot onto the green. Water hazards everywhere and 103 sand traps.

    ReplyDelete

For custom-made birthday, anniversary or special occasion puzzles from C.C., please email crosswordc@gmail.com

Her book "Sip & Solve Easy Mini Crosswords" is available on Amazon.

Please click on Comments Section Abbrs for some blog-specific terms.

Please limit your posts to 5 per day and cap each post length at about 20 lines in Preview mode.

No politics, no religion and no personal attacks.