I'll Take Critters that might say "I Hop" for $1000, Alex.
19-Across. Venue where a fair trial is impossible: KANGAROO COURT. When I was a kid, I used to watch Captain Kangaroo hold Court with Mr. Greenjeans.
30-Across. Destinations for some bargain hunters: FLEA MARKETS.
40. Like a half-baked scheme: HARE BRAINED.
50-Across. Fried egg-and-bread breakfast dish: TOAD-IN-THE-HOLE. Toad-in-the-hole is a traditional British dish of sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding batter and typically served with onion gravy. The American version is an egg cooked into a cut-out in bread.
And the unifier:
64-Across. Breakfast chain known for flapjacks, or what the first part of 19-, 30-, 40-, or 50-Across might say?: IHOP. Also known as the International House of Pancakes.
Across:
1. Gyro bread: PITA.
5. Letters that start some URLs: HTTP. As in HyperText Transfer Protocol.
9. Sunny window spot for a cat: SILL.
13. Japanese noodle: UDON.
14. Toledo's lake: ERIE.
15. What "two" meant to Paul Revere: BY SEA. The British are coming! The British are coming! It's all about the ride of Paul Revere (Jan 1, 1735 ~ May 10, 1818).
 |
| Paul Revere was a silversmith by trade. |
16. Barnes & Noble purchase: BOOK.
17. Levi's alternatives: LEEs. Levi Strauss (Feb. 26, 1829 ~ Sept. 26, 1902) revolutionized work pants in 1873. Henry David Lee (Dec. 9, 1849 ~ Mar. 15, 1928) established the HD Lee Mercantile Company in 1889. The company later went on to manufacture work clothing.
18. Map detail: INSET.
22. Mex. neighbor: USA.
24. Feedbag morsel: OAT.
25. Overnight flight: RED EYE.
26. Polite denial: NO, SIR.
28. Exchanges: SWAPS.
33. Fan setting: LOW.
36. "Ghostbusters" director Reitman: IVAN. Ivan Reitman (Oct. 27, 1946 ~ Feb. 12, 2022) was a Canadian film director, but he was born in Komárno, Czechoslovakia, now known as Slovakia. He also directed such movies as Kindergarten Cop, Dave and Twins.
37. 1990s fitness fad: TAE BO.
38. Peru's "City of Kings": LIMA. // and 60-Across. Highlander of ancient Peru: INCA.
39. Vietnamese New Year: TET. Tết, short for Tết Nguyên Đán. It is the most important celebration in Vietnamese culture. Tết celebrates the arrival of spring based on the Vietnamese calendar, which will fall on January 29, 2025 in the Gregorian calendar.
42. French cap: BERET.
43. Precipice: LEDGE.
44. "Star Trek" character whose first name is Hikaru: MR. SULU. The original Mr. Hikaru Sulu was portrayed by George Takei (b. Apr. 20, 1937).
47. Isn't without: HAS. Cute clue!
49. Not great: BAD.
54. "Give me the car keys": I'LL GO.
55. Ancient alphabetic character: RUNE.
56. Killer whale: ORCA.
59. Showers love (on): DOTES.
61. Private nonprofits: Abbr.: NGOs. As in Non-Governmental Organizations.
62. Admin. aide: ASS'T. As in an Assistant.
63. Gave the thumbs-up: OK'ED.
Down:
1. Trivia night venue: PUB.
2. Wedding promise: I DO.
3. Couldn't stand it anymore?: TOOK A SEAT. Another cute clue.
4. Crooner Paul: ANKA. Paul Anka (b. July 30, 1941) is another Canadian. He was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
5. Hägar the Horrible's wife: HELGA.
6. Special reward: TREAT.
7. Wedding cake layer: TIER.
8. Mexican money: PESO. Did you know that there are currently eight countries that use the peso, as its monetary unit? With the exception of the Philippines, the other countries are in the Americas: Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Uruguay
9. Religious councils: SYNODS. The word comes from the Ancient Greek σύνοδος, which means assembly or meeting.
10. Time of the week?: ISSUE. Time is now a bi-weekly magazine. It published weekly until 2020, when it began to publish every other week.
11. Suspicious (of): LEERY.
12. Hot drink with foam art: LATTE.
15. Muscles shown off by muscle tees: BICEPS.
20. Standard: NORM.
21. Memorable speaker: ORATOR.
22. Ill-suited: UNFIT.
23. Find a solution for: SOLVE. Could you find a solution for all the clues in today's puzzle?
27. "The Vampire Diaries" actor Somerhalder: IAN. The Vampire Diaries was a supernatural teen drama television series that aired from 2009 until 2017. Ian Somerhalder (b. Dec. 8, 1978) portrayed one of the supernatural teens on the series even though he was in his 30 when the show ran. He was born in Covington, Louisiana.
28. Shooting sport with clay pigeons: SKEET.
29. NASA telescope launched in 2021: WEBB. The James Webb Space Telescope is a space telescope designed to conduct infrared astronomy. As the largest telescope in space, it is equipped with high-resolution and high-sensitivity instruments, allowing it to view objects too old, distant, or faint for the Hubble Space Telescope. James Webb (né James Edwin Webb; Oct 7, 1906 ~ Mar. 27, 1992) was the Undersecretary of State during the Truman administration. In February 1961, he became the second Administrator of NASA.
31. Galloping: AT A RUN.
32. Like a steak with a very red center: RARE.
33. "Gift From the Sea" writer Anne Morrow: LINDBERGH. Anne Spencer Morrow Lindbergh (June 22, 1906 ~ Feb. 7, 2001) was an aviatrix in her own right. She was also the wife of Charles Lindbergh.
34. Counterpart to alpha: OMEGA. First and last letters of the Greek alphabet.
35. Sauntered through the surf: WADED.
38. Tell it like it isn't: LIE. Another fun clue.
40. Greek god of the sun: HELIOS.
41. As well: ALSO.
42. Part of a financial plan: BUDGET.
44. Crete peak: Abbr.: MT. IDA.
45. Caramel-filled treats: ROLOs. These candies have been making frequent appearances in the puzzles.
46. Seasons, as pasta water: SALTS.
47. Therefore: HENCE.
48. Winning: AHEAD.
51. Group of three: TRIO.
52. Big piece: HUNK.
53. Actress Anderson: LONI. Loni Anderson (b. Aug 5, 1945) is best known for her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the sit-conn WKRP in Cincinnati.
57. Murmur: COO.
58. Nile reptile: ASP.
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
It's Election Day:
33 comments:
FIR without erasure. Filled TOAD IN THE HOLE without a perp, as it is a big part of my DW's family lore.
I really like wandering through the FLEA MARKET of Marion, just south of Ocala. You can get your hair cut or your scissors sharpened, and used books are $2 for paperbacks and $3 for hard bound. The No Dogs Allowed signs are widely ignored and are unenforced.
IVAN Reitman also produced Howard Stern's Private Parts, a surprisingly good movie - kind of a tribute to his then-wife Allison. Lots of well-known showbiz sorts appeared in the movie.
George Takei used to be a regular on Howard Stern's radio show, and often expressed his dislike for Bill Shatner.
FLN - CED, thanks for the Gilda link. She was one in a million. And thanks to Bayou Tony for the apparent joke.
Thanks to Michael for the fun, easy election day special. And thanks to Ha2la for another fine review.
Yeah, the above is Jinx in Norfolk. Still getting my computer family settled in.
When it comes to an ‘easy’ puzzle like this one, I try to figure out the reveal before I get there. However, I didn’t this time. The reveal was a pleasant surprise. Other than that, I don’t have too much to say about this puzzle. FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Reveal? There was a reveal? Drat, missed it again. I did notice the leapin' critters at the beginning of each of the themers. Does that count? Not familiar with TOAD IN THE HOLE. TET -- there was a memorable one in '68. TIME -- wasn't aware that it had gone bi-weekly. It used to be a powerful political force; today, not so much. Thanx, Michael and Hahtoolah. (We voted a couple of weeks ago. Check.)
Took 4:59 today for me to hop through this one.
I didn't know toad in the hole, Ian, or that today's writer clue was actually a clue ("'Gift from the Sea' writer Anne Morrow'" - um, true?).
Have a great Election Day, to those of us in the USA.
FIR. Easy puzzle, but it is Tuesday after all. When I got to the reveal I grinned and realized what a clever theme it was.
My only nit was the crossing of two proper names, Ian and Ivan. This is very bad form for a crossword.
But overall, it was a very enjoyable puzzle.
Tough start to the write-up with “Critters the might” rather than “that might” and Mr. Lee of jeans fame who lived in reverse starting his company 60 years before he was born. Otherwise a fun puzzle and explication.
Thank you
Should I HOP to it? This puzzle as very easy to SOLVE, with just a few unknowns. TOAD IN THE HOLE-no way I would have ever filled it without the easy perps.
AT A RUN took perps from the way it was clued
LINDGERGH- knew Charles, but not his wife. Perps for that.
I'll HOP outta here.
I also noticed that but there's no need to call attention to somebody else's petty mistake.
Piece of cake. With kangaroo I was looking for critters in the themers. Hopping in the reveal was a satisfying surprise.
I know of the British and the American toad-in-the-hole. For me the British recipe is too much trouble for breakfast. I toast a slice of bread and make an egg over easy to place on top of it. Tastes the same as the American toad-in-the-hole.
Jeans are acceptable as casual dress in many places these days. They were originally made for miners and other workmen.
As standard á CW as I could want. Fun theme. I too saw the jumping critters and wasn’t surprised by the reveal. A few clever clues and we were not bombarded by proper names. Yes, crossing IAN and IVAN was a no no, but so easy to guess.
Thank you Hahtoolah for your usual informative and fun review.
Cute theme, Michael; this was an enjoyable puzzle today. And for the second day in a row, we had a puzzle that by and large avoided pop culture and obscure performers. How refreshing!
There were several clever clues, such as 15 Across, "What 'two' meant to Paul Revere" (BYSEA).
Jinx in Norfolk:
I saw in an earler comment your reference to Gilda. I don't know which Gilda you're referring to (I doubt it's the Rita Hayworth film!), but if it's Gilda Radner, I just want to say that here was a comedienne who I feel was taken from us way too soon.
Again, Michael, thanks for a Tuesday puzzle that was in good taste, amusing, clever, and satisfying in the solve.
Good Morning:
I didn’t expect a reveal but was pleasantly surprised to see one and have it be so clever and comical. My only nit is that the cluing was too straightforward and, therefore, led to a very quick and easy solve. Granted, it’s only Tuesday, but a little more of a challenge would have added more interest and satisfaction with the solve, but the cute critter theme gets 5 stars from me!
Thanks, Michael,and thanks, Hahtoolah, for the fun and facts. The Comics for Fleas, Beret, and Treats were today’s favorites.
Have a great day.
Good Morning! Fun theme today. I was working the south and filled the reveal which helped fill the themers.
I found it interesting that TOAD IN THE HOLE is completely unrelated in the American and British versions. I’ve seen it on cooking shows but never eaten it fixed that way.
Perps for IVAN and IAN, crossing yet!!
Thanks, Hah2lah, great info & fun toons.
Terrific Tuesday, Mr. Hobin! I enjoyed seeing critters in the long answers, and smiled at the reveal, which showed me that they all HOP.
DNK Ms LINDBERGH but changed sAD to BAD for her. Also DNK IAN, but no problem there.
Hahtoolah, thanks for the British breakfast recipe. I'll never make the mistake of ordering that in England now! I am in awe of your ability to find apt, amusing cartoon illustrations. A very fine review.
Terrific Tuesday. Thanks for the fun, Michael and Hahtoolah.
I FIRed in good time and smiled at the I HOP theme. (I was thinking animal/insect/ toad?)
This Canadian knew ANKA and IVAN. IAN perped.
Other names were well-known.
I know of TIAD IN THE HOLE (British version), but don’t make it.
A five letter Crete peak? Oh, we need MT before IDA. Ditto with MR SULU.
Hahtoolah’s HUNK is showing off his BICEPS.
I noted ERIE and LEERY.
Favourites were the clues for ISSUE and BY SEA.
Sunflowers are Helianthus genus; they turn toward the sun.
Wishing you all a great day.
Thought maybe LAT skipped one day. The site I use on my phone has no puzzle today. 🤔
Here’s hoping for peaceful acceptance of whatever the results of today’s election. 🙂
Unseasonably warm 70 for first week of November. ☀️ think I’ll hold off bringing in the patio furniture.
Have a great day 😁
Thank you for your sarcastic correction. It must be so hard to be perfect.
Musings
-More much-needed rain and no political text messages this morning!! YAY!
-When I fill in the first nine words without even thinking, I know it’s going to be an easy day.
-Our Lily loves the window SILL but we had to buy her a ladder to get there at her age
-Remember when you had to first actually type in “http://www”. to get to a web address
-I suspect UDON noodles have been on grocery shelves my whole lift but I never noticed them before seeing them here
-A kid suggested I call my corn detasseling business Cornbusters, which I did.
-I only know one city in Peru, so…
-Some think coach Todd Bowles should not have OKED kicking a PAT last night instead of going for two
-LASSI or LATTE has to wait for crosses for me
-NASA usually refers to the WEBB telescope as the JWST
-Today I learned LINDBERGH has a silent “H”
Addendum
-I always appreciate it when someone emails me about a mistake in my write-up rather than posting it here first. That's why I check my emails very early on Saturday mornings.
Hola!
Jiminy crickets! It's a jumping theme! Thank you, Michael Hobin. I see all the critters, KANGAROO, FLEA, HARE, TOAD and they all jump. Even the ORCA leaps in a way. There's nothing HARE BRAINED about this puzzle!
"One if by land, two if BY SEA" is burned into my memory.
Many years ago I read the biography of Anne Morrow LINDBERGH. She and her entire family were awed by Charles LINDBERGH but over time they became disillusioned.
In the movie, "CONCLAVE", the SYNOD is revealed as a very human organization with flawed members. The acting was excellent and I expect some nominations for an Oscar or two.
I've never heard of TOAD IN THE HOLE and it doesn't sound appetizing.
Thank you, Susan, for another excellent review! Have a lovely day, everyone! May the best person win the election!
I forgot to say that the disappearance of the LINDBERGH baby devastated the family.
Puzzling thoughts:
First off, I believe that this might be Michael Hobin's debut puzzle for the LA Times. I notice that he has had one puzzle published @ NYT (a Sunday, no less), and like me, took up his crossword puzzle constructor hobby during the pandemic. Kudos, Michael and congrats on your work! Excellent theme and entries
And as a fellow constructor, I am going to give you a pass on the crossing of IAN and IVAN. I realize how difficult (actually, more frustrating) it is to have a perfect set of words in each section of the grid
Thanks, Susan, for the great recap. I am glad that I solved today's puzzle as there was a word entry today that also appears in this coming Friday's puzzle. My comments about the word were almost yours, verbatim
With regards to the election, I did vote (filled out a mail-in ballot and dropped it off at the municipal office) and am trying to decide if I want to watch any TV today or just wait until tomorrow morning to wake up and see who our new President is ... if this year's election results are like those of 2020, I may need to sleep-in until Friday if I want to see the final tally
Son of Addendum
-I loved the write-up and cartoons, Susan!
-Competing against Three Wise Men in a trivia contest took me a few heartbeats but it made for a big smile! The trees kept getting in the way of the forest. :-)
-The Omaha World Herald dropped the Jumble and LA puzzle three weeks ago but at least brought back the former after many complaints. I now solve the puzzle online.
-The irony is that today is the first day my paper deliverer got the paper on my porch out of the rain.
No problems, FIR in good Tuesday time no W/Os. I learn something from almost every CW. Today I learned there in an H on the end of LINDBERGH, and I learned it is HARE brained, not HAIR brained. Don't laugh: a hare's brain would be infinitely smarter than a head filled with hair, so I've always wondered... 11 names by my count but I DNK only 2. I did not see the theme until the reveal, which was the very last clue: well done, MH, and thanx for the fun, perfect-for-a-Tuesday level CW. Hahtoolah, great job on the write-up, great selection of cartoons, as always. Thanx for all your time and hard work.
Fun Tuesday puzzle, many thanks, Michael. And your commentary was very helpful, as always, thanks for that too, Hahtoolah.
Well, since this puzzle was going to take us on a bit of a trip, it was a good idea to get a bit of a snack before we left. So we had a chance to go to an IHOP or a PUB and get some OATmeal and some PITA bread, along with some LATTE before we took off. We were told to make sure we had a reasonable BUDGET for this trip, so I checked my PESOS and was ready to get on the plane and TOOK A SEAT and enjoyed my RED EYE flight. We landed in LIMA and wandered around there, and eventually got to other cities by land and BY SEA, where we got to see lots of INCA art, and WADED in water and had a great time. We also visited zoos in several places and saw lots of critters. My favorites were the KANGAROOS but I also liked the ORCAS and the HARES and the TOADS and even the FLEAS, believe it or not. A total TREAT.
Hope you all have a chance to take a fantasy trip like this sometime.
Cheers, Misty
Hope you all
Yes, Gilda Radner. Bayou Tony (who sometimes calls himself "Anonymous T") linked a great bit from the days long ago, when Saturday Night Live was actually funny. Gilda is auditioning for a song-and-dance role. She is obviously a very good tap dancer, although she manages to make it look awkward when the scenario calls for it. You can see it by going to the Corner's front page (where ha2la's write-up appears) and going to the bottom and clicking on "older posts." Select 11/4/2024, then go to the bottom of sumdaze's write-up, and click on "comments." Bayou Tony's comments and link are near the bottom of the peanut section comments.
Thanks for the travel log, Misty.
Or like 2000, when we had to argue about "hanging chad" and "pregnant chad" for weeks. My absentee ballot never arrived, so today I showed up in person. They had me fill in a provisional ballot, subject to validation. When I'm verified, the ballot will be counted and if someone stole my absentee ballot it won't be counted.
Today we broke the record for number of days with no rainfall in Tidewater. It has now been 34 days without rain. We have a 24% chance on Thursday, the best odds we have until 58% Monday.
I always enjoy your stories, Misty! I wonder, do they start to form in your head while you are solving the puzzle or do you wait until you are finished?
Congratulations to Michael on his LAT debut! I liked your happy, HOPpy puzzle!
I noticed both SILL and LEDGE.
Thanks to Hahtoolah for her delightful write-up!
I very much enjoyed solving this puzzle, in which I filled in so many across answers that many of the down answers were already filled in, so I went back to look at the downs again to savor them.
LW and I voted about a week ago.
Good reading you all.
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