Theme: "Wheeling and Dealing" - Each common phrase is reinterpreted as if it's a car model.
23A. Shopping for a Kia subcompact SUV?: SOUL SEARCHING.
33A. No longer keen on that Ford crossover SUV?: OVER THE EDGE.
56A. Choosing the Nissan with the all-wheel drive?: GOING ROGUE.
60A. "Love the new Ford crossover"?: GREAT ESCAPE.
89A. Expert in hard-to-find Rolls-Royces?: GHOST HUNTER.
92A. Deep dive into the three-row Honda?: PILOT STUDY.
112A. Leaning toward the Honda sedan?: CIVIC MINDED.
128A. Last Nissan truck off the assembly line?: FINAL FRONTIER.
No Hyundai, their models are place names. Not good for wordplay. Eight theme entries, four in front, four in the back. Very consistent.
Alan has collabrated a few times with Andrea Carla Michales and Doug Peterson. This is his first solo LAT Sunday. Congrats, Alan!
1. Pilates roll up targets: ABS.
4. Return advice pro: CPA. Tax return.
7. Emmy winner Uzo: ADUBA. Gained fame for her role in "Orange Is the New Black".
12. States with authority: SAYS SO.
18. Public notice: PLACARD.
20. Use a zoom: PAN IN. And 109. Zoom events: Abbr.: MTGS. Meetings.
21. Go over exam notes, e.g.: PREPARE.
25. Check one's math again: RE-TOTAL.
26. "I could go on": ETC ETC. Boomer's high school classmate Paul Newman visited me last Tuesday. He lives in a 16-acre farm. Has a story for everything.
27. Clay mineral: TALC.
28. French café partner?: LAIT. Cafe au lait.
30. Ryan Gosling and Kingsley Ben-Adir in "Barbie": KENS.
31. Coastal concern: SEA LEVEL.
36. 37-Across+Y: RE-DO &
37. PC shortcut key: CTRL.
39. Collaborators: TEAMS.
40. "Yikes!": EEK.
43. Figure on the shelf at Christmas: ELF.
45. Genesis figure: ENOS.
47. "Sorry, impossible": I CAN'T.
51. Flamenco star José: GRECO. Italian-born flamenco dancer. Learning moment for me.
54. "The Witch Elm" novelist French: TANA.
63. __ Rabbit: BR'ER.
64. Pans with patinas: WOKS.
65. Munich Olympics star Mark: SPITZ.
66. Asian mushroom: ENOKI. Common ingredient in Chinese, Japanese and Korean soup dishes and hot pots.
68. "Get Smart" crime org.: KAOS.
70. Bring home: NET.
71. NBA great Curry: STEPH. And
73. "Goosebumps" series writer: STINE. And
75. "Julie & Julia" actor Stanley: TUCCI. Three name in a row, but all well-known.
77. President's advisory gp.: NSC. National Security Council.
79. Skateboarding trick spot: RAIL.
81. Drum kit piece: SNARE.
83. Really irritated: CROSS.
85. Tiny amount: A TAD. Bill and Margaret loved my quinoa & sweet potato salad. I used a few drops of maple syrup in my dressing.
87. Commit a faux pas: SLIP.
95. Bone, in Bologna: OSSO.
96. Khaki kin: BEIGE.
97. Collection of plates?: ARMOR. Armor plates.
98. Farm baby: FOAL.
100. Hosp. theaters: ORS.
102. Limit: CAP.
103. Third-largest city in Israel: HAIFA.
107. Lego competitor: K'NEX.
116. Mooch: FREELOAD.
120. Guinness of "Smiley's People": ALEC.
121. Useful houseplant: ALOE.
122. Mindy, to Emily in "Emily in Paris": AMIE.
124. "Sit!": PARK IT.
126. Direct connection: LINKAGE.
131. Past-post wager: LATE BET.
132. Guitar-playing "Glee" kid: ARTIE. Played by Kevin McHale.
133. Disney film whose opening song is "The Family Madrigal": ENCANTO.
134. Fixers of fixer-uppers: DIYers.
135. Temps for bundling up: TEENS. You can still see guys in shorts in our grocery store. Crazy.
136. Low grade: DEE.
137. Retired jet, briefly: SST.
Down:
1. Semicircular recess in a cathedral: APSE.
2. Dabs at: BLOTS.
3. Béarnaise, e.g.: SAUCE.
4. Windsor __: CASTLE.
5. Lead: PRECEDE.
6. "__ Twist, Scientist": kid-lit bestseller: ADA.
7. Class for a mathlete, informally: AP CALC.
8. Arlene of the silver screen: DAHL.
9. Billion-dollar start-up: UNICORN.
10. British trash can: BIN.
11. Viewpoint: ANGLE.
12. 7UP competitor: SPRITE.
13. "Think" singer Franklin: ARETHA.
14. Up to this point: YET.
15. "Eat Mor Chikin" sloganeer, e.g.: SPOKESCOW.
16. Completely full: SATED.
17. Red-haired primate: ORANG.
19. Crystal __: CLEAR.
22. "What __ can I do?": ELSE.
24. GPS directive: RTE.
29. Class with smocks: ART.
32. Electric fence measures: VOLTS.
34. Daily Insta post: V-LOG.
35. Arab honorific: EMIR.
38. Steep places?: TEAPOTS. Steep tea.
40. Half a zygote: EGG.
41. Miscalculates: ERRS.
42. Stays cool: KEEPS CALM.
44. Turn toward: FACE.
46. Weep noisily: SOB.
48. Argumentative: AGONISTIC. New word to me.
49. Zap in the microwave: NUKE.
50. Doctor's order: TEST.
52. "I Am __": Jenner reality show: CAIT.
53. Kelp forest dweller: OTTER.
From Google: One of the most important mammals in a kelp forest is the
sea otter, who takes refuge from sharks and storms in these forests.
55. Mums' mums: NANS.
57. Rankle: IRK.
58. "How cool!": NEAT.
59. Curmudgeon: GROUCH.
61. Convenience that may take a toll?: E-ZPASS. Great clue.
62. Squeezing (by): EKING.
67. No longer even: IN A HOLE. Casino, right?
69. Benchwarmer: SCRUB. Scrub player.
72. Sword handle: HILT.
74. God with magical arrows: EROS.
76. Pet protector: CONE.
77. Good place to pick up a cab?: NAPA. Cabernet.
78. Commotion: STIR.
80. Lucy who played Watson: LIU. Wang, Li, Zhang, Liu and Chen are popular surnames in China.
82. Petrol provider: ESSO.
84. Angry Birds owner: SEGA.
86. Thingamabob: DOOHICKEY.
88. "See attached" attachment: PDF.
90. Singer Mel: TORME.
91. Sales __: REP.
93. Gillette brand: TRAC.
94. Tie together: YOKE.
99. Slow and steady, musically: ANDANTE.
101. "First ... ": STEP ONE.
104. Radiologist: IMAGER.
105. Options at Ruth's Chris: FILETS. We have a Ruth's Chris in Minneapolis.
106. "So is that __?": A NO.
108. Cases for Mulder and Scully: X-FILES.
110. Hurried look: GLANCE.
111. "That's not totally wrong": SORTA.
112. Dial up: CALL.
113. "The Song of Achilles" inspiration: ILIAD.
114. Starbucks order: VENTI.
115. Skim, as homemade chicken stock: DE-FAT.
117. Zebra on a field: REF.
118. Claude of "B.J. and the Bear": AKINS. Unknown to me.
119. Pescatarian and vegetarian: DIETS. Connie is a pescatarian.
123. Course opener?: MAIN. Main course.
125. Bouncy gait: TROT.
127. Actor Vigoda: ABE.
129. Indignation: IRE.
130. __ velvet: RED.
C.C.
32 comments:
I didn’t have too much trouble with this puzzle, but I do have a little nit with the plethora of names; in particular, crossing “Aduba” (who?) and “Dahl” as well as putting “Spitz” and “Steph” right next to each other. Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Not too difficult. D-o recognized all of the car models. I do have a nit on PAN IN: A PAN is a side-to-side camera movement, not a zoom. Anyone else try the old standby ATRA for that Gillette product? Impressive Sunday debut, Alan. Thanx for 'splainin' it all, C.C. (Are you sure that's not a 160-acre farm? 16 acres is pretty small.)
EZ PASS: I turned mine in when I retired, but recently got a new one. It occasionally comes in handy on my M-o-W routes and for doctor appts.
AKINS: Claude AKINS was a long-time spokesperson for AAMCO transmissions. "Half the cars serviced by AAMCO don't need a new transmission." Translation: AAMCO can fix your car about half the time.
FIW, missing my WAGs @ AlDANTE x KlEX and NANa x aTINE. Several erasures, notably ghost busters->GHOST HUNTERS and is that all->is that A NO.
I'm with D-O on PAN IN. I worked at a PBS affiliate as an engineer, and saying that would have caused derisive laughter among the crew.
I most remember Claude AKINS as Sonny on Movin' On. He and Frank Converse both actually drove the big rigs on the show, and both became licensed to do so.
Did we have an Easter egg @ BRER rabbit? (I wonder if the wokies have cancelled those books. Can't imagine The Tar-Baby being allowed to be read to kids these days.)
In Eastern Kentucky, the competitor to 7UP was (and is) Ale-8-One. Pronounced SORTA like "a late one."
So good to see The Velvet Fog remembered today with TORME.
Thanks to Alan for the fun puzzle, and thanks to CC for the interesting review.
All the obscure names sucked the fun out of this one.
Just read that Ricky Henderson, aka the Man of Steal, died Friday. in his major league career he had 1,406 steals, 468 more that Lou Brock. RIP, fast man. You made watching baseball fun.
Unlike SubG and d-o, I thought this was a lot tougher than most Sundays. It took major perp aid and a few WAGs to get me ADUBA, GRECO, TANA, KAOS, TUCCI, ARTIE, ADA and AGONISTIC…ETC…ETC…. I did manage a FIR w/out help in 50:07, but it was a slog. I was familiar with all the car models so that helped, just all the obscurities (for me) put a damper on the enjoyment. Thanks Alan for the morning challenge and to C.C. for your informative write-up.
Not a fan of today’s puzzle. Too much popular culture and other trivia. Turns the whole thing into an ugly slog. CAIT, GRECO, TANA, STEPH, SPITZ - all crammed into one small section would be Exhibit A.
I knew the cars but the SW gave me trouble. The cross of VENTI and DIYERS got me. I guessed VENTE and had no idea what DAYERS was and left it. A FIW today. Not a coffee drinker and Do-it-yourself wasn't a thought.
The proper names for A&E fills are always a struggle. ADUBA, AKINS, KENS, TUCCI, KNEX, X FILES, ARTIE, ENCANTO ADA, CAIT, LIU-filled by perps.
I did know Jose GRECO, ALEC, DAHL, ARETHA.SPITZ, TORME.
Thingamabob- I've always heard thingamajig or DOOHICKEY
ORANG for red haired primate. When I had hair, it was red.
FILETS or T-BONES. Chris Steakhouse in NOLA was bought by Ruth Fertel. She kept the name Chris, just added her name. It became Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.
There were quite a few proper names and quite a few unknowns, but this puzzle wasn't too hard for a Sunday. JOSE GRECO was popular when I was growing up and CLAUDE AKIN was very successful actor, if not a big star. I did not know the term UNICORN as it relates to start up companies, but it is what made ELON MUSK so rich and now so powerful, for better or worse. We will see. I liked the clue STEEP PLACES . Add maple syrup is always a way to enhance flavor; we tapped the trees, boiled the sap and bottled our own maple syrup while I was in prep school. To quote Susan "Yum."
Thanks Alan and as always C.C.
FIR. I'm not a car guy so I struggled with this one. To me I identify cars as red, or black, or white, etc, etc.
And there were some incredibly tough clues, not to mention unusual proper names of folks I've never heard of. Throw in a few WAG's and I finally got'er done.
Overall a not so enjoyable puzzle. In fact most unenjoyable!
Somehow I got ESSO filled for both 82D and 85A which had me scratching my head over that section, until I ame here to check and see what I had wrong. Changing the "E" to "O" made it all obvious. Duh!
I also knew all the car models so the theme was easy. My only other area was changing NANA to NANS and HafT or HILT. First thought for Starbucks order was latte but CIVIC dissuaded that.
A tip of the hat to Alan and C.C. for their collaboration on today's fun.
Rootin, tootin, straight shootin son of a gun.
Bewail
Thanks, BE. I always wondered how that place got such an odd name
Musings
-Obscure-to-me names went without a fuss. Me too D-O.
-Bottom fourth took some skating around.
-RE-TOTAL: I GLANCED at our bill and it looked too small but I just signed for it and we left. Turned out we got someone else’s bill.
-I had a choice between Barbie and Oppenheimer. Guess which one I chose.
-I knew of GRECO. It’s hard to imagine him in The Ryman Auditorium
-STEPH is the best 3-point shooter of all time. Some say that the high number of those shots is a big factor in NBA ratings being way down.
-Past-posting will get you thrown out of (or worse) casinos
-Crystal CLEAR
-Antagonistic seemed better than AGONISTIC but…
I will take a CSO at FINAL FRONTIER.
Hand up I found this difficult, but enjoyed the theme. Hand up crossing A?UBA/?AHL was just evil. WAG to FIR.
Well done, Alan, on your first solo venture. And a 21 x 21 Sunday grid at that, which--for those keeping score--is 441 cells, nearly twice the size of a weekly puzzle (225).
I'm not particularly a car fanatic, but I recognized most of the models that were clued, and perps helped on the others. Incidentally, it is not true that all Hyundai models are place names. I drive a Hyundai Sonata, and there is also an Elantra. Might have been cool to see a "Moonlight Sonata" answer, but 15 letters would have probably exceeded Alan's design.
I disagree with those who took issue with "obscurities" and pop culture celebrities. For one thing, the few that existed, such as, say, ADUBA or CAIT, were virtually surrounded by friendly perps. Secondly, people like Mark Spitz and Steph Curry are hardly obscure!
I appreciated the clever cluing, especially the misdirections like "Good place to pick up a cab." Thanks, Alan, for a well-designed and well-constructed Sunday challenge. It was a fun and interesting solve for me, and I look forward to your next effort.
Didn't quite make it to the FIR, but the challenge was mostly enjoyable. PANIN was just plain wrong, though. JINX: tsk, tsk! No more "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah" for you! Too bad.
Sunday puzzle. Right up my car sales alley, loved seeing those tail lights!
Greet the day.
Good Afternoon:
I thought this was a fun and different type theme and while I knew the models, I didn’t always know the maker relationship. So, that added a bit of an extra challenge, which I prefer on a Sunday, rather than a fill-in-the-blanks no-brainer.
I don’t mind proper names, as long as they aren’t obscure and, to be fair, a large grid is almost impossible to fill without a certain number of them. Agonistic is a new to me, as is KNEX and Spokes Cow.
Thanks, Alan, and congrats on your Sunday debut (nice beginning) and thanks, CC, for guiding us through the ins and outs of the construction pluses and minuses.
Have a great day.
Hmm, curious, how do you get talc from clay?
But apparently, you can make clay using talc! I would provide a link, but as a PSA, they all include annoying music...
I really enjoyed all the car phrases. That was a lot fun. I did want GHOST buster at first of course. What turned me into a GROUCH was the amount of proper names, the majority of which I didn’t know. It’s easier to list the ones I knew: SPITZ, TANA, that we had recently) ALEC, DAHL, LIU, ABE. For that reason, it took me a long time to finish since I had to look up the ones that perps wouldn’t reveal.
I didn’t know LEGO had a competitor. I have café au LAIT every morning.
Thanks CC for your reveal.
"It’s hard to imagine him in The Ryman Auditorium" Taylor Swift too, but she has performed there several times.
Like
The repurposing of common phrases as car shopping descriptions was very clever. Thanks, Alan, and congratulations! Like KS at 9:38 AM, I am more likely to notice a car's color than its make and model, so these weren't easy for me.
Like many of you, I DNK all the celebrities, but it's interesting to see that we differ on which ones stumped us. Mine were ADUBA, GRECO, ARTIE, ADA, DAHL, and AKINS. Still, FIR, so a pretty good run. Thanks for solving, C.C.! Your quinoa and sweet potato salad looks delicious.
Interesting Sunday puzzle, many thanks, Alan. And we always appreciate your helpful commentary, C.C., many thanks for that too.
Well, as soon as we learned that this puzzle might be a bit OVER THE EDGE, we knew we were in for a bit of SOUL SEARCHING, especially if we were going to have people GOING ROGUE and having to look for a GREAT ESCAPE. But, thank goodness, we also got some good advice, mainly to stop being a GROUCH, and KEEP CALM and CIVIC MINDED. That all worked, and we could now calm down and enjoy a good DIET with some ENOKI, and servings from a TEA POT. Made us feel SATED and much safer on our FINAL FRONTIER.
Have a great rest of the weekend, everybody.
No fair basing the theme answers on car models! All models look alike now and some don’t even have the model name on them! Maybe in a car mag but give the general puzzle people a break! Radiologists are not imagers-scans & x-rays machines are. Not happy with this one.
BE here. Lee there's also a NOLA eatery, Pascal's Manale Restaurant. It was originally called Manale's. When Mr Manale died, his nephew Pascal bought it,hence Pascal's Manale Restaurant. Weird.
Hola! Slow slog on a Sunday. It took way to long to finish this one which I started early this morning and continued after church. But I had to make a stop at my friend's home then eat before I attempted the puzzle again. I recognized the names of the autos not because I'm a big car fan but when I'm waiting at a stop light I look at all the cars near me and their names as well as the license plates. During the winter months many are from out of state including from Canada.
On a trip to Spain I was fortunate to see a performance by Jose GRECO and some other wonderful dancers.
I well remember Mark SPITZ during his outstanding Olympic performance.
It's the fourth Sunday of Advent so that means Christmas is almost here! Have a great Sunday, everyone!
Enjoyed the car models. Didn't enjoy all the guess-the-specific-name stuff. Agree that PAN IN is just plain wrong, as is calling a radiologist an IMAGER.
I made the same misread, CrossEyed — TALC is 27A, the clue referred to 37A, CTRL. I gotta remember to use my readers if it’s early!
====> Darren / L.A.
Having wrapped up my working career in the car biz, this one was pretty enjoyable — our man Alan threw together a pretty snazzy collection of themers here. But, also having been a pro shooter in an earlier part of my life, I had to take away some snazz for that PAN IN fill — if you use a zoom lens, you “push in”. Gotta check your facts, dude (plus be sure Ms. Varol doesn’t hang you out to dry with any of her changes!).
And yeah, we can do without obscure names.
Other’n’that, this was a fairly straightforward operation, with only a couple of exceptions: ORANG needed to be clued a bit better — it’s an “orangutan” until being slangified. Never heard any of my Brit friends call their gram “NAN”, so I guess it must be one of many UK terms. SST made yet another appearance, along with FREELOAD. And I had LINeAGE in place until DOOHICKEY sussed out that messy SW territory. But all that luck didn’t save me from a FIW — I got 86’ed by the CROSS of KlEX and AlDANTE…oh well, y’can’t win ‘em all, yah?
====> Darren / L.A.
I enjoyed the car names and the puzzle except for a few gripes. K'nex wasn't even known by my 7 year old grandson who loves Legos. I had never heard of "agonistic" either. Nice recap CC. Merry Christmas to All. GC
Thanks and congrats to Alan on his solo debut! I'm not into cars so this one was a bumpy ride for me. I was about 50-50 on my WAGs. We had ESSO CROSSing OSSO today.
Do we have a CSO to Ray-O at 104-D?
Thanks to C.C. for her take on the theme and answers! FAV was the pic of the OTTER.
I'm posting after Darren / L.A. so I must be really late today!
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