google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Saturday, September 20, 2025, Zhouqin Burnikel

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Sep 20, 2025

Saturday, September 20, 2025, Zhouqin Burnikel

Saturday Themeless by Zhouqin Burnikel

The only really hard name for me was a soaper star but C.C. gave me every letter I needed. C.C.'s penchant for clever word play definitely was part of this fun puzzle.

As you can see in the grid, the center of the puzzle was dense with unique fill. Very impressive! C.C. told me this is his lowest themeless word count she has ever achieved. She aims to have only 70 - 72 words and this one only has 62!! WOW!

Across:

1. Dress to impress: GLAM UP - We've seen GLAMPING and GLAM ROCK and this phrase fits that pattern. 

                 

7. Hit up quickly: PINGED.

13. Muralist on some Mexican 500-peso notes: RIVERA - $26.74 in Nebraska! The Rivera mural shown hangs in The Mexican National Palace.

                                                                                 

14. Citrus hybrid: TANGELO A tangelo is a hybrid citrus fruit that is a cross between a tangerine and a pomelo or grapefruit. The name "tangelo" comes from combining the names of the parent fruits.  
15. Track unit: ONE LAP.

16. Left out words?: WHY NOT ME.


17. Place to go for a drive?: TEE. 😀

18. Mosslike organisms: LICHENS.


20. Only Canadian NBA city, for short: TOR.

21. Something that may be a little fishy: TANK 😀

23. Valley known as the "Garden of France": LOIRE.


24. Tricks: CONS.

25. Montana motto: ORO Y PLATA - I learned here that this is "gold and silver"


27. Fighting chance?: BOUT - Over 70,000- people filled the Alegiant Stadium last week to see Terence "Bud" Crawford of Omaha become the first boxer to hold undisputed crowns in three different weight classes. Some say he is the best "pound for pound" boxer in history.


28. Pocket money: LOOSE CHANGE.

30. Dis-illusioned?: DOWN TO EARTH 😀

31. "Something just occurred to me": HERE'S AN IDEA.


32. At any time: EVER.

33. "Days of Our Lives" actress on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills": LISA RINNA ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  Talk about GLAMED UP!


37. Put on a happy face: GRIN.

38. Small porch: STOOP - From the Dutch word stoep meaning step or platform brought to America by Dutch settling in the Hudson Valley. You're welcome. 😀


39. Grant consideration: NEED.

40. "Details later" letters: TBA.

41. "I'm not buying it": C'MON NOW.

43. Tom yum __ soup: GAI - Thai dish: Tom (to boil), Yum (to mix) and Gai (chicken)


44. Judged events for pedigreed and companion animals: CAT SHOWS - Yeah, even I put DOG first

46. Start of a rumor: I HEARD - When I first HEARD
 this, it became a mission of mine to take on anyone who believed it. 


48. Ravaged by time: AGE WORN - My old Chucks had to be falling apart before I pitched them

49. Snapple rival: NESTEA.

50. Fly-by-night operation?: RED EYE ðŸ˜€ We left Honolulu at 11 pm to arrive in LA at 5 am. It was New Year's Eve and so they turned on the cabin lights for ten seconds over the Pacific where it was midnight and wished us a Happy New Year. 

51. Sturdy woolens: TWEEDS - Professor Henry (Indiana) Jones wore TWEED


Down:

1. Spelunking site: GROTTO.

In the Timberline GROTTO in Colorado

2. Flat, in a way: LINEAR - Well known for us math peeps


3. Active Naturals brand: AVEENO.

4. Airport code in Victoria: MEL.


5. Eurasian border range: URAL.

6. Toy spaniels: PAPILLONS - Also know as Continental Toys


7. Stewart who won the U.S. Open twice in the 1990s: PAYNE - He was very popular, known for his colorful outfits and died far too young at 42.


8. Trip stops: INNS.

9. Many a charitable gp.: NGO.

10. Bring the hammer down: GET TOUGH - Mahler also called for this during his sixth symphony


11. Los Angeles suburb: EL MONTE - A 19 minute drive.


12. Busy bodies: DOERS.

14. "And they're off!": THE RACE IS ON.

16. Hot dog option: WHITE ONIONS.

19. Beach resort locale: COASTAL TOWN.

22. Padmé Amidala's grandson: KYLO REN - Halloween is just around the corner


24. Hold: CONTAIN.

26. It might be lost in a storm: POWER - It happened to us for three days in March.

27. More minimalist: BARER - Most of us can remember our dorm room


29. Wasn't talking nonsense: HAD A POINT.

30. Strayed: DEVIATED.

31. Grass and such: HERBAGE.
34. Cancel out: NEGATE.

35. Closed in on: NEARED.

36. Athletic brand based in Bavaria: ADIDAS - Headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany. They have supplied Husker gear for years

 

37. Aston Martin DB12, for one: GT CAR - Grand Touring. Those Europeans always get their abbreviations backwards. 😀


38. Three-ingredient treat: SMORE.

41. Baby bok __: CHOY.


42. Cry of relief: WHEW.

45. Nor. neighbor: SWE.

47. Tip of the tongue?: ESE - Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Maltese, Burmese, Sudanese...

 

1 comment:

desper-otto said...

With cavern/GROTTO, tINEAR/LINEAR, and TuNa/TANK all piled up in the NW, that area turned into a slog. Thought KY LOREN might be the grandson. Wanted "judged" to be a verb rather than an adjective. Those three staggered 11s sandwiched between a pair of 9s was an impressive feat. Excellent construction, C.C. Enjoyed your expo, Husker.