Theme: "I Like Your Style" – Each theme clue includes a hairstyle-related word, but the answer puts a twist on it by interpreting that word in a non-hair context.
23. Figure likely to wear a beehive?: WINNIE THE POOH. Honey.
33. Ace with a flattop?: NAVAL AVIATOR.
41. Formal arrangements of bangs?: TWENTY-ONE GUN SALUTES.
70. Product for those who like fades?: ACID-WASHED JEANS.
98. One traditionally consulted for extensions?: SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR. Hair extensions.
106. Person to see about a blowout?: AUTO MECHANIC.
120. Suppliers of color and highlights?: SPORTSCASTERS.
I like this spin. The answers are fun and so unexpected. Xword Info said Michael is "Schlossberg is a doctor at St. Charles Medical Center, in Bend, Ore., specializing in internal medicine."
Quite a lot of 3-letter words. Seems like Patti is flexible with 3-letter fill now.
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| Xword Info pic |
1. Panthera onca, familiarly: JAGUAR. Panthera is Latin for "Panther".
7. How apartment space is measured: IN AREA.
13. Bub: MAC.
16. Favoritest pal: BFF.
19. God whose symbol is a lyre: APOLLO.
20. Syllabus units: TOPICS.
21. Subzero suds: ICE BEER. And 62. Unfiltered and unpasteurized brew: REAL ALE.
25. With determination: STOUTLY. And Stout.
26. Bobbing along, maybe: ASEA.
27. Suffer from a cold: AIL.
28. The Eagles, on scoreboards: PHI.
29. Lowland: DALE.
30. Part of many a baby split in bowling: THREE PIN. Usually pins 2 & 7, or 3 & 10.
38. Vaccine pioneer: SALK.
39. Take down a few notches: ABASE.
40. Gush: SPEW.
48. Like muesli: OATY.
49. Burgundy of "Anchorman": RON.
50. Capital of Texas?: TEE. Texas.
51. Peter or Paul, but not Mary: APOSTLE.
54. Remove adhesive from: UNTAPE. The double-sided tape on my wall mirror took the paint off.
57. Dreidel, e.g.: TOP.
59. Text-skimming letters: TL; DR.
61. Marsh duck: TEAL.
64. Advance: LOAN.
67. 58-Down spot: BLOG. 58. Publish on social media: POST.
69. Dashboard fig.: RPM.
74. __ carte menu: A LA.
78. God whose symbol is a hammer: THOR.
79. More than weary: DRAINED.
83. California __: ROLL.
85. Fashion logo pt., perhaps: INIT.
87. Fresh: NEW.
89. Brosnan TV role: STEELE. Remington Steele.
90. Huge statues: COLOSSI. Plural of colossus.
92. "Big Blue": IBM.
95. Sushi fish: AHI. Ahi tuna.
97. Form field, typically: NAME.
103. Actress Rowlands: GENA.
104. Garlicky mayonnaise: AIOLI.
105. Michael of "Superbad": CERA.
109. Mexican resort destination: ACAPULCO.
114. Paw: MITT.
115. Coastal Indian state: GOA.
116. Santa __, California: ANA.
117. Drudge: PEON.
118. Discard from memory: UNLEARN.
126. Fumes: SEES RED.
127. Pumpkin seed: PEPITA.
128. Pester: NOODGE. Not a word I use.
129. Tiny bit: TAD.
130. Classic Pontiac: GTO.
131. Dress-down occasion, perhaps: FRIDAY.
132. Answers for a mistake: OWNS IT.
Down:
2. Gorillalike: APISH.
3. Hopeless case: GONER.
4. Comrades in arms?: ULNAE. Chuckled at the clue.
5. Comedian Wong: ALI.
6. Blini topper: ROE.
7. "Au contraire!": I THINK NOT. Also loved these few long entries: 16. Bug hunter of sorts: BETA TESTER. 22. Capital with many thermal baths: BUDAPEST. 76. "That's that": ALL SETTLED.
8. Yuletide: NOEL.
9. Telegram, e.g.: APP. Never used Telegram.
10. __ Bravo: RIO.
11. Logical opening: ECO.
12. Vesuvius fallout: ASH.
13. "Supernatural" actor Collins: MISHA.
14. When Portia says, "The quality of mercy is not strained": ACT IV. "The Merchant of Venice".
15. Biz bigwig: CEO.
17. Gent: FELLOW.
18. Greasy spoon fixture: FRYER. I miss Youtiao sticks.
24. Customize: TAILOR.
28. "Hear me out!," e.g.: PLEA.
31. Contractor's no.: EST.
32. Pony up: PAY.
33. Hound, or a horse: NAG. 35. Wind instrument?: VANE. 82. Fast buck?: DEER. 101. Time share?: ERA. 108. Complex structure?: CONDO. All great clues.
34. Border on: ABUT.
36. Liquid or fixed commodity: ASSET.
37. Colon's meaning in an analogy: IS TO.
41. Stint overseas: TOUR.
42. No longer wax: WANE.
43. Jazzy James: ETTA.
44. African antelope: NYALA. Sure glad I don't have those horns on my head.
45. Netflix detective Holmes: ENOLA.
46. Scooped, as soup: LADLED.
47. Rumpuses: UPROARS.
52. Seatbelt spot: LAP.
53. Hedgerow tree: ELM.
55. D.C. gps.: PACS.
56. Snoot: ELITIST.
60. Great Society pres.: LBJ.
63. Heavenly: EDENIC.
65. "That feels great!": AHH.
66. Element between fluorine and sodium on the periodic table: NEON.
68. Pest in a cloud: GNAT.
71. "All Quiet on the Western Front" subj.: WWI.
72. Heebie-jeebies: DREAD.
73. Tuscan city with 17 subdivisions: SIENA.
74. "The __ of the moral universe is long ... ": MLK: ARC.
75. Brit's bathroom: LOO.
80. "Dandy": NEAT.
81. Tricycle-riding Muppet: ELMO.
84. Bummers: LOW NOTES.
86. Ankle joint bone: TIBIA.
88. "Beats me": WHO CAN SAY.
91. "The King and I" land: SIAM.
93. Blessing: BOON.
94. Timbuktu's country: MALI.
96. Discontinued poison treatment: IPECAC. Have you guys seen "Into the Wild"?
99. "Very funny": HA HA.
100. Cars singer Ocasek: RIC.
102. Knock: RAP.
103. __ pig: GUINEA.
106. Required: A MUST.
107. "Snowy" wader: EGRET.
110. Writer Sinclair: UPTON. I confused him with Sinclair Lewis, who's from Minnesota.
111. English university city: LEEDS.
112. Welsh breed: CORGI.
113. Earliest phase: ONSET.
116. "__ girl!": ATTA.
119. 2022 World Cup champs, briefly: ARG. Argentina.
120. Letters on some makeup bottles: SPF.
121. Each: PER.
122. Nail art brand: OPI.
123. Purge (of): RID.
124. What makes mist moist?: AN O.
125. Scatter: SOW.
Special treat today from the ACPT in Connecticut.
Tom Pepper, talented constructor and friend of the blog, snapped a great selfie with Patti Varol and Mike Alpern.
Patti, of course, is our LA Times Crossword editor, shaping the puzzles we solve together every day. Mike has been a central figure in the community for years, known especially for hosting the annual Cru Dinner. Fun to see these familiar names and faces from the crossword world all in one frame!
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| Tom Pepper, Patti Varol and Mike Alpern |
32 comments:
I hadn’t heard of
“real ale” though I guess it makes sense. Otherwise, I didn’t have too much trouble with this enjoyable puzzle. FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Forgot to read the puzzle title, but still enjoyed the "twist" of the theme answers. The train came into the station in normal Sunday solving time. Michael, I'm surprised that a doctor has enough free time to create crossword puzzles, and creates a really good one, to boot. Thanx for explaining the grid, C.C.
FIR. I had to really work at this to get the win. The theme, although clever, was not all that simple and easy. But I threw down Winnie the Pooh and the rest seemed to come.
There were a lot of unknowns and learning moments for me, but I persisted and eventually got 'er done.
Overall I enjoyed this puzzle.
Can’t say I enjoyed this one. Since the theme was in the clues and not the answers, it was essentially a themeless puzzle with arbitrary multiword phrases as answers. I don’t think I ever heard the words EDENIC and NYALA, although I did perp them. I didn’t bother trying to count the number of clues that had question marks or exclamation points, which I always interpret as the constructor/editor saying “Aren’t I clever?!?” And of course, the usual social media and casual speech jargon. Although I only had one blank square (the Natick for me of O_I and PE_ITA), I didn’t even bother with an alphabet run and TITT. All in all, a waste of a good part of a Sunday morning.
The old Texas TEE again, but this time it's not oil!
A bit crunchy, but nothing like yesterday (nothing like yesterday ever again!). I had by AREA before IN AREA, which sounds wrong. All the themers are pretty solid except AUTO MECHANIC which isn't really a first choice for a tire repair, although he certainly could help.
FIW, forgetting how to spel ACAPULCO, and thinking that an "Enc" might be something that falls out of a Time magazine, and "CEnA" seemed as likely as "CERA." The Four Tops had a big hit with Phil Collins' Loco in Acapulco. Phil was able to crowbar in Loco when he was selected for the cast of the train robbery flick Buster.
I thought that IN AREA was the weakest part of the puzzle. "IN sq ft" or "by AREA" would have worked better, IMO. One of those technically correct, but never used, clue/fills.
ICE BEER? REAL ALE? Guess I picked a bad decade to quit drinking.
T for TEXAS is a great song from Wanted! The Outlaws, an album from Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser that became the first country album to be platinum-certified.
Jimmy Buffett sang:
"From midnight in the Quarter to noon in Thibodaux
I will play for gumbo, yes, I will play for gumbo."
Thanks to Michael for the fun Sunday outing, and to CC for another good review.
FIR. I enjoyed this CW. CC pointed out the clever clues I liked. Not many names, that’s good.
My first time in Acapulco was á week in 1961 when it was not the tourist haven it is today. There were few people on the beaches and restaurants.
Thank you CC. Seafood gumbo is á delicious dish, but seek out one made by á Louisiana native.
Good Morning:
This was a very clever, well-executed theme, IMO, and there was just the right amount of challenge for a Sunday, a rare feat. For once, I was so engrossed in and enjoying the solve that I didn’t notice, nor was bothered by, the TLWs. I counted them only after CC mentioned the high number and I was shocked to come up with a rough number of 43, which has to be a record. However, the majority of the fill, especially the themers, was so fresh and strong, that alone negates any major criticism from me. The two unknowns, Nyala and Colossi, were easily perped and were a mere blip in the grid compared to many Sunday’s filled with obscurities.
Thanks, Michael, for a satisfying, enjoyable solve and thanks, CC, for the usual pro’s viewpoint. I learn so much from your “insider’s” observations and comments, especially those that compliment the constructors’ talents and strengths.
Thanks, again, to everyone for the lovely birthday wishes and kind words. I was remiss in not complimenting and thanking CC for the “photo” of me and those adorable puppies. In case you were unaware, it was me and my kitchen, but it was AI enhanced and those puppies, sadly, were just “visiting”!
FLN
Anonymous @ 5:51 ~ Congratulations on such a lovely song. Thank you for your kind words.
Have a great day.
Today's puzzle was a welcome return to normalcy after yesterday's travesty. Well done, Michael. And I applaud your decision to break the rules by embedding the theme in the clues instead of in the answers. Why not?
The puzzle was by and large fair and straightforward, and well-constructed, highlighted by a couple near-grid-spanners. I was unfamiliar with a few entries, like BETATESTER, NYALA, and ICEBEER, but perps took care of them.
So again thanks, Michael, for a fresh Sunday-appropriate challenge. And thanks, C.C., for your helpful recap as well as the photo of our esteemed editor and friends.
Do you ever read the puzzle title?
Perps were my salvation today. A nice puzzle, and a masterpiece of stellar construction compared to yesterday's dreck.
Yesterday's was an abomination, never should have been published.
I liked Michael Schlossberg's style! Many thanks to him and to C.C. for a nice start to Sunday.
This was a tough, crunchy, and time-consuming solve, but solve it I did! The cluing was not exactly on my wavelength, and answers like IN AREA, REALALE, & ICEBEER were not on my radar. That said, although it took a few walk-aways and a lot of coffee, the answers resulted in AHAs! instead of yesterday's WTFs? Finishing left me with a nice feeling of accomplishment and enjoyment. More like this please, and no more like yesterday's pile of c--p!
Musings
-Irish’s comments work for me, yet again!
-The SW corner took some time but never seemed “ungettable”
-I learned and unlearned PEPITA from yesterday’s puzzle
-I remember lining up in our City Auditorium to get our SALK vaccine
-I felt DRAINED after talking for three straight hours on Thursday
-I’ve heard of NOODGE as a noun for one who pesters but not as a verb or pestering
-OWNS IT: JFK after the Bay Of Pigs fiasco which was planned before he took office
-We love Rick Steves’ travel shows and in one he featured people in the hot baths of BUDAPEST doing this among other things
-17-yr-old teen idol Ricky Nelson seemed very miscast in the John Wayne western Rio Bravo
-Genoa fit in for SIENA but it is in Liguria not Tuscany
Husker, the "Duke" always like having a teen idol in his movies. Remember Fabian in North To Alaska, and Frankie Avalon in The Alamo?
Only Sunday puzzles have a title. I score about 50% remembering to look at it.
The 17 districts (contrade) of the magnificent “Tuscan city” of Siena hold the “Palio” an annual horse race in honor of summer feast of The Assumption in the massive main square. Never made one, usually back in the states doing internships in the summer.
ACID-WASHED explains the holes in fashionable (?) teen jeans
Canada Eh : you guys say “JAG-WAHR” or “JAG-YOU-WAHR”? 🐆
Apollo’s symbol is a guy telling him fibs? Another “Schlossberg” warned us (Dr. Jonas must be turning over in his grave.)
The NOODGE is the one doing the pestering. …. Colon IS TO large bowel as jejunum IS TO small bowl
I was a cult follower of the 15 (2005-2020) seasons of my most favorite series ”Supernatural”. MISHA played the Angel Casteil. The boys called him “Cas” .
“OK.. Are you done with the cheeky comments”?
“Yes SIAM” 😄
I struggled to FIR and never noticed the 'hairstyles' in the clues. The Key West area was the last; I've never heard of NOODGE but left it after the V8 hit me on 'mist and moist'.-A NO. Duh. We've had PEPITA before but it took perps because it's 'dress-down SMTWTFS for me. FRIDAY under SPORTS let me get PEPITA.
BETA TESTER came from perps before I realized it.
REAL ALE? Is there a counterfeit ale? Thank you perps.
UNTAPE- removes the adhesive from 'what'? The adhesive is still on the tape. The 'tape' has been removed, not the adhesive.
STEW- I don't know what burgoo is but gumbo is on just about every menu in these parts.
Heebie-jeebies-noun; DREAD-verb. Never knew it could be a noun.
ACAPULCO- that area has turned into a narco-state. I hope it gets cleaned up in the future.
CERA, MISHA, NYALA, SIENA- DNK as clued.
I'm guessing that you've never been to a Kentucky Derby. Burgoo is as much a tradition there as mint julips and silly hats. Seems to me that it was made from squirrel originally, but the modern version is made with beef and/or pork. Kinda a first cousin to Brunswick stew as well. (There's still almost four weeks until the Derby, so you still have tie to make arrangements. They sell burgoo at the track.)
What a fun puzzle! Clever theme, interesting fill, good clueing. I was able to get most of the unknowns from well-placed perps, and would have FIR had it not been for misspelling "ACAPULCO". Oops. Looks like I was not alone there.
Thanks Michael, for the enjoyable outing, and CC, for the entertaining write-up.
Tough but delightful Sunday puzzle, many thanks, Michael. And C.C., thank you so much for posting a picture that included Patti. How nice to finally be able to actually picture her! Hope you all have good weather, and a good day, everybody.
Big Easy was in The Quarter last night to see Paul Simon
Heyyy, it’s Multi-Word Sunday, kids! But nothing really all that obscure from the good Doctor, so I really enjoyed doing this one (esp. after yesterday’s abomination…). Just the right amount of crunch (so it didn’t get soggy in my milk 🤣) and yeah, there were a couple of entries that were a bit of a streeeetch (INAREA, ISTO) but not anything really snarky. Good fun!
And the usual fine review from C.C. capped a nice morning cruise to a FIR, altho I did find myself spinning my wheels at the NYALA/REALALE intersection 🏎️
====> Darren / L.A.
Drove round trip from Chicago to Acapulco and back in 1959. Safe all the way. Enjoyed a beautiful week on the beach
I liked this puzzle, even though the meaning/connection between some of the theme clues/answers escaped my understanding until I read the explanation by C.C.
JAG-WAHR
FIR, but I didn't understand the answer to 85 Across: Fashion logo pt., perhaps. Answer was INIT from perps.
Hola! Whew! I'm so late for this party! Actually I briefly napped while working on this puzzle since I don't have to cook dinner. We are celebrating granddaughter #2's birthday tonight.
It was a struggle and I finished almost all of it; I just could not get rid of ELAND and don't think I've ever heard of NYALA only eland.
I have fond memories of my trip to ACAPULCO with a dear friend.
Thank you, Michael, for the challenge and it's nice to see our editor's photo and match a face with the name. Stay well, everyone!
I am copying NaomiZ@11:19's post -- except replacing "start" for "end".
"I liked Michael Schlossberg's style! Many thanks to him and to C.C. for a nice end to Sunday."
Many fashion houses use their initials like YSL for Yves Saint Laurent.
Thanks, RustyBrain. That explains it.
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