Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here with what seems to be an LAT debut for Joseph McIntyre. Congrats!
Theme: Coasting Through the EASTs
In today's grid we find four themed answers and a reveal. All of the themed answers end in EAST. Let's take a look:
17 Across. *Sourdough starter: WILD YEAST.
I enjoyed seeing sourdough in this clue. I learned how to work sourdough in 1986 from the (then) cowboss on the MC Ranch, Bill Black. I have been baking all things sourdough ever since -- though I did have to grow a new starter with WILD YEAST a few times over the years due to moves. My current starter is 11-years old. Here is a pic of my starter, all bubbly and ready for use:
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| I simply pour off 2 cups to make my bread then put the rest back into the refrigerator. This method does not require "discard recipes". |
24 Across. *News website created by Tina Brown: THE DAILY BEAST. This is a news and opinion website that focuses on politics and pop culture. It launched in 2008.
38 Across. *Words before a grand finale: LAST BUT NOT LEAST.
This was a fun grid-spanner!
50 Across. *Christian observance that's on a different day every year: MOVEABLE FEAST.
At first I was looking for a specific holiday that is not tied to a date. Think "Easter" as opposed to "Christmas". There is also the Hemingway memoir.
62. Londoner who may have a Cockney accent, and what can be found in the answer to each starred clue: EAST ENDER. This is "a native or inhabitant of the part of London that is EAST of the city as far as the River Lea, including the Docklands".
EastEnders is also a popular British television 56-Down that first aired forty years ago. Here is a 2:30 min. video explaining the Cockney accent on the show.
Here on The Corner, today's unifier has an extra connection because posters often describe the right-hand side of the grid as the EAST, as if we are talking about a map. Today's themers all END in the EAST with EAST. It is unlikely that this is what our constructor had in mind -- but it works. I'll add the grid now so you can see if you agree. 
We have more clues to review:
Across:
13. Commotion: ADO.
14. Congressional staffers: AIDES.
16. Downstairs, on a ship: BELOW. as in "BELOW deck" and 28 Across. "All __": conductor's call: ABOARD. and 44 Across. Assents, at sea: AYES.
21. In a funk: SAD.
23. Smart talk: SASS.
27. "Yeah, I doubt that": UH, NO.
31. Sir __ Guinness: ALEC. (1914 - 2000) He won the 1958 Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai. Here he is as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars trilogy. 
34. Library search field: TITLE. When searching for a book on a library's website, one can search by TITLE, author, ISBN, keyword, etc.
43. Make into law: ENACT. The M-W Word of the Day for "today" was the opposite of ENACT. It was rescind.
45. "This Is __ Tap": SPINAL. This is Spinal Tap is the title of a brilliant 1984 mocumentary movie directed by Rob Reiner. As it turns out, its sequel is set to be released in theaters on Sept. 12, 2025. Fans of the original will enjoy this very short teaser trailer. I like how they made the Roman numeral II an homage to their Stonehenge stage prank in the original.
47. Triumphant cries: AHAS.
56. Native Czech, e.g.: SLAV. Slovenians are a South SLAVic ethnic group so I will take this opportunity to insert here a photo of Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, wearing the yellow jersey in Stage 6 of this year's Tour de France.
58. Give it a go: TRY.
59. Whitney Houston's record label: ARISTA. Click here to see which artists Arista currently represents. How many do you recognize?
60. Inner's opposite: OUTER.
64. Fast train to Boston: ACELA. I know this from doing XWD puzzles. My memory trick is ACE-Los Angeles...even though it is a northEAST train.
65. Worshippers at a gurdwara: SIKHS. A gurdwara is a Sikh shrine or place of worship.
66. Granola grain: OAT.
67. Out of fashion: PASSÉ. The way the fashion industry keeps recycling past looks, it is difficult to know what is out.
30. Connect the __: DOTS. American Phil Hansen set the world record for the most dots in a dot-to-dot puzzle in 2017 with 52,901 dots.
31. Pub quaffs: ALES. A quaff is an enjoyable beverage...not to be confused with coif, an elaborate hairdo.
32. "Aladdin" treasure: LAMP.
33. Best guesses: ESTIMATES. You will need to get these if your vehicle is 36-Down-ed.
35. "Monsters, __": INC. This is a 2001 Disney Pixar film. It's cute. You should see it.
36. Wreck beyond repair: TOTAL.
39. Wally Cleaver's little brother, for short: BEAV. The TV series Leave It to Beaver ran from 1957-1963.
48. Shrubby tracts: HEATHS. I was temporarily stymied on this one because I typed in HEdgeS.
1. Sign-in sheet attachment: PEN. 
4. Brand of canned meat: SPAM.
4. Brand of canned meat: SPAM.
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| SPAM musubis are popular in Hawaii. They sell rice molds that match the SPAM shape. |
8. "What's it all about, __": Dionne Warwick lyric: ALFIE. Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote Alfie for the 1966 film of the same name starring Michael Cane who, by the way, used his native Cockney accent for the film. Cilla Black of the UK was the first to record Alfie. Cher also released a cover.
13. Commotion: ADO.
14. Congressional staffers: AIDES.
16. Downstairs, on a ship: BELOW. as in "BELOW deck" and 28 Across. "All __": conductor's call: ABOARD. and 44 Across. Assents, at sea: AYES.
19. Maine-to-Florida rte.: U.S. ONE. This is the longest north-south road in the U.S.
 |
| I found these two photos on the internet. Both were taken in Fort Kent, ME. There seems to be some disagreement as to which end is the start. |
20. Swear (to): ATTEST.
21. In a funk: SAD.
Wild Cherry ~ Play That Funky Music ~ 1976
They do not seem SAD, even though they are playing a funk-y song.
23. Smart talk: SASS.
27. "Yeah, I doubt that": UH, NO.
31. Sir __ Guinness: ALEC. (1914 - 2000) He won the 1958 Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Colonel Nicholson in The Bridge on the River Kwai. Here he is as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars trilogy.
34. Library search field: TITLE. When searching for a book on a library's website, one can search by TITLE, author, ISBN, keyword, etc.
CSO to our library expert, NaomiZ!
37. Seek the affection of: WOO. Who else enjoys seeing the various bird performances when they try to WOO a mate? Here is a 1:42 min. video of an impressive affection seeker.
42. 911 responder: Abbr.: EMT.
43. Make into law: ENACT. The M-W Word of the Day for "today" was the opposite of ENACT. It was rescind.
45. "This Is __ Tap": SPINAL. This is Spinal Tap is the title of a brilliant 1984 mocumentary movie directed by Rob Reiner. As it turns out, its sequel is set to be released in theaters on Sept. 12, 2025. Fans of the original will enjoy this very short teaser trailer. I like how they made the Roman numeral II an homage to their Stonehenge stage prank in the original.
47. Triumphant cries: AHAS.
56. Native Czech, e.g.: SLAV. Slovenians are a South SLAVic ethnic group so I will take this opportunity to insert here a photo of Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, wearing the yellow jersey in Stage 6 of this year's Tour de France.
58. Give it a go: TRY.
59. Whitney Houston's record label: ARISTA. Click here to see which artists Arista currently represents. How many do you recognize?
60. Inner's opposite: OUTER.
64. Fast train to Boston: ACELA. I know this from doing XWD puzzles. My memory trick is ACE-Los Angeles...even though it is a northEAST train.
65. Worshippers at a gurdwara: SIKHS. A gurdwara is a Sikh shrine or place of worship.
66. Granola grain: OAT.
67. Out of fashion: PASSÉ. The way the fashion industry keeps recycling past looks, it is difficult to know what is out.
 |
| Heidi Klum knows. |
68. Impulsive: RASH. 
69. Online convos: IMS. conversations and Instant Messages
Down:
Down:
1. Play with, as a kitten might: PAW AT. 
2. Novelist Wharton: EDITH. (1862-1937) In 1921 she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her 46-Down, The Age of Innocence.
3. Nick of "The Prince of Tides": NOLTE. his IMDb page
4. Opens up to a doctor?: SAYS AH. Husker Gary gave us a fun Norman Rockwell image the Saturday before last. He wrote, "Nobody did it better than Norman Rockwell." I agree.
5. Metal baking container: PIE TIN. Metal steered me toward TIN.
6. Letters on a toothpaste tube: ADA. American Dental Association
7. Stylike: MESSY. like a pig sty
8. __ Dhabi: ABU. Abu Dhabi is both a city and a an emirate within the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Also, Abu Dhabi the city is both the capital of the Abu Dhabi emirate and the capital of the UAE. (I'll wait while you reread those last two sentences a few times so they make sense.)
9. To a smaller degree: LESS SO. I liked the three S's in a row.
10. Drift from the pier: FLOAT AWAY.
11. Charged particles: IONS.
12. Female sheep: EWES. Sheep can be singular or plural.
15. Shot in the dark: STAB. as in "I'm not sure but I'll take a STAB at the answer"
18. Subtract: DEDUCT.
22. Coped (with): DEALT.
25. "Whole __ Red": Playboi Carti album: LOTTA.
26. Cain's brother: ABEL.
29. Pink wine: ROSÉ. Summer is a good time to experiment with a ROSÉ.
2. Novelist Wharton: EDITH. (1862-1937) In 1921 she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her 46-Down, The Age of Innocence.
3. Nick of "The Prince of Tides": NOLTE. his IMDb page
4. Opens up to a doctor?: SAYS AH. Husker Gary gave us a fun Norman Rockwell image the Saturday before last. He wrote, "Nobody did it better than Norman Rockwell." I agree.
5. Metal baking container: PIE TIN. Metal steered me toward TIN.
6. Letters on a toothpaste tube: ADA. American Dental Association
7. Stylike: MESSY. like a pig sty
8. __ Dhabi: ABU. Abu Dhabi is both a city and a an emirate within the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Also, Abu Dhabi the city is both the capital of the Abu Dhabi emirate and the capital of the UAE. (I'll wait while you reread those last two sentences a few times so they make sense.)
9. To a smaller degree: LESS SO. I liked the three S's in a row.
10. Drift from the pier: FLOAT AWAY.
12. Female sheep: EWES. Sheep can be singular or plural.
15. Shot in the dark: STAB. as in "I'm not sure but I'll take a STAB at the answer"
18. Subtract: DEDUCT.
22. Coped (with): DEALT.
25. "Whole __ Red": Playboi Carti album: LOTTA.
 |
| learning moment |
29. Pink wine: ROSÉ. Summer is a good time to experiment with a ROSÉ.
30. Connect the __: DOTS. American Phil Hansen set the world record for the most dots in a dot-to-dot puzzle in 2017 with 52,901 dots.
31. Pub quaffs: ALES. A quaff is an enjoyable beverage...not to be confused with coif, an elaborate hairdo.
32. "Aladdin" treasure: LAMP.
33. Best guesses: ESTIMATES. You will need to get these if your vehicle is 36-Down-ed.
35. "Monsters, __": INC. This is a 2001 Disney Pixar film. It's cute. You should see it.
36. Wreck beyond repair: TOTAL.
39. Wally Cleaver's little brother, for short: BEAV. The TV series Leave It to Beaver ran from 1957-1963.
 |
| Golly gee, BEAV, what do you think Dad's gonna say when he gets home from work and finds out you are keeping a frog in the bathtub? |
40. Not yet rented: UNLET. One definition of let is "to rent".
41. Enter slowly: EASE IN. Are you one to EASE IN to a cold swimming pool or do you go for it and jump right in?
46. Fiction section selections: NOVELS. Last month I read The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. I sometimes see Alka at the pool where I swim but we are not on a first-name basis or anything like that. Do her other two NOVELS center around the same characters?
41. Enter slowly: EASE IN. Are you one to EASE IN to a cold swimming pool or do you go for it and jump right in?
46. Fiction section selections: NOVELS. Last month I read The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi. I sometimes see Alka at the pool where I swim but we are not on a first-name basis or anything like that. Do her other two NOVELS center around the same characters?
48. Shrubby tracts: HEATHS. I was temporarily stymied on this one because I typed in HEdgeS.
Perhaps you've heard of HEATHS and heathers. A HEATH is an area of open, uncultivated land, especially in Britain, with characteristic vegetation of heather, gorse, and coarse grasses.
49. From the start: AFRESH. Def.: from the beginning; anew; again.
51. Greek war god: ARES. He was also a lover as well as a fighter. ARES and Aphrodite had a thing but she was married to Hephaestus so that did not go well. Eros, another crossword regular, is an offspring of ARES and Aphrodite.
52. Via plane: BY AIR.
53. Prim "Same for me": AS DO I.
54. Cook blue crabs, perhaps: STEAM.
55. Fruity desserts: TARTS.
56. __ opera: SOAP. EastEnders, for example
57. Pixar film set in the fictional Italian town of Portorosso: LUCA. This is a coming-of-age story about a young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer with his friends. The catch is his human friends do not know that he is a sea monster.
61. Norma __: Sally Field role: RAE. Sally Field (b. Nov. 6, 1946) won an Oscar for Norma Rae in 1979. She won again in 1984 for Places in the Heart.
49. From the start: AFRESH. Def.: from the beginning; anew; again.
51. Greek war god: ARES. He was also a lover as well as a fighter. ARES and Aphrodite had a thing but she was married to Hephaestus so that did not go well. Eros, another crossword regular, is an offspring of ARES and Aphrodite.
52. Via plane: BY AIR.
53. Prim "Same for me": AS DO I.
54. Cook blue crabs, perhaps: STEAM.
55. Fruity desserts: TARTS.
56. __ opera: SOAP. EastEnders, for example
57. Pixar film set in the fictional Italian town of Portorosso: LUCA. This is a coming-of-age story about a young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer with his friends. The catch is his human friends do not know that he is a sea monster.
61. Norma __: Sally Field role: RAE. Sally Field (b. Nov. 6, 1946) won an Oscar for Norma Rae in 1979. She won again in 1984 for Places in the Heart.
 |
| Sally Field as Norma Rae |
63. Reggae-adjacent genre: SKA. For about a year now I have been asking my smart speaker to play SKA music when I am doing housework. The tempo keeps me moving and I love the horns! We'll go out today on one of my favorite SKA covers:
Come on Eileen ~ Save Ferris ~ 1997
Have a great week, everyone!
6 comments:
While there were a
couple of semi-obscure names, I think that I can still call this puzzle “a walk in the park.” Let’s hope you all agree. Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
If this is a debut, it's a good one -- four themers plus a reveal. Nice for a Monday. Dw was an East Enders devotee at one time when the local PBS station was rerunning it. I visited ABU DHABI back in the '80s. It was kinda stark; I'm sure I wouldn't recognize it today. AFRESH is one of those words that I've seen in print, but have never heard anyone say. Nicely done, Joseph and sundaze. (I enjoyed that SKA tune.)
Oops, sumdaze. Sorry.
FIR, but lesser->LESS SO.
What kind of sign in sheet has a PEN attached? I've seen clipboards with a sheet and a PEN attached. Maybe I've always worked for companies that buy cheap paper.
I counted all of the current acts that I've heard of that are available on ARISTA. My total is "zero."
Never heard of MOVEABLE FEAST. Looking it up, it appears that 1) it is more commonly speld MOVABLE FEAST, and B) that it's usage in print peaked in 1980. Seems like it is mostly used these days in the way Papa Hemingway used it - as a metaphor for "things change over time."
Thanks to Joseph for the fun start to the week, and to sumdaze for another fine review. Gorse will be a topic of conversation during next week's Open Championship, which we colonists call "The British Open."
Took 4:56 today for me to get this off my breast.
I didn't know the Warwick song (Alfie), the sikhs clue/answer, the news website (The Daily Beast), or Whitney Houston's (or anyone else's) label, but I agree with the SubG labeling this one a WITP.
I wish the constructors and editors would not use "words" such as "afresh".
I find them archaic, annoying, and alazy.
FIR. Once again a bunch of obscure proper names in what should be an easy Monday puzzle. I suppose next we'll have the constructor's cat's mother's name as a clue. I do not believe proper names belong in any puzzle ever. But enough of my rant.
Fortunately the perps took care of the insane proper names and the solve was otherwise fair.
I got the theme early on with the second long answer and that helped a lot.
Overall, given my rant aside, a so so puzzle.
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