Theme: Yada yada yada.
Today's crossword puzzle comes to us from Katie Hale, assistant crossword editor of the Los Angeles Times. Although she is clearly a sparkling wit and wordsmith, today Katie is concerned with conversation that lacks spark. The theme answers are:
20-Across. Warning on delicate garments: DRY CLEAN ONLY. A DRY conversation is lifeless, humorless, or matter-of-fact.
34-Across. Feature of nonglossy countertops: DULL FINISH. A DULL conversation is boring, tedious, or uninteresting.
44-Across. Espressos with steamed milk: FLAT WHITES. A FLAT conversation lacks energy, emotion, or enthusiasm.
56-Across. "... and other meaningless drivel," or what can be found at the start of 20-, 34-, and 44-Across: BLAH BLAH BLAH. All of these conversations are BLAH and sound to at least one of the participants like BLAH BLAH BLAH (or yada yada yada) -- in other words, meaningless drivel. Katie has clued us in to look for something BLAH at the start (or beginning) of the answers cited.
Let's not put you to sleep with all this blather. On to the rest of the clues and answers!
Across:1. Timelessly stylish: CHIC.
5. Many a robocall: SCAM.
9. Brewery tour pours, for short: IPAS. India Pale Ales.
13. Polo ground chunk: DIVOT. A divot is a small chunk of grass and soil dug out of the ground, most commonly the result of swinging a golf iron. In polo, divots are torn up by the horses' hooves as they gallop, stop or turn. Polo matches feature a halftime break during which spectators stomp the upturned chunks of turf back into place, making the field safer for the horses.
 |
| The divot stomp is even more fun if you're drinking. |
15. __ stick: POGO. The pogo stick's name comes from the surnames of two German inventors, Max Pohlig and Ernst Gotschall, who registered a German patent for a "spring end hopping stilt" in 1920.
 |
| Pogo stick |
16. French peak, to locals: ALPE. The French Alps are located in southeastern France, along the borders with Switzerland and Italy. The French language loves unpronounced letters, so of course Alp is Alpe in French.
17. Public tantrum: SCENE. As in, "Don't make a scene!"
18. Bring in: EARN.
19. Stare open-mouthed: GAPE.
20. [Theme clue]
23. On land: ASHORE. As a landlubber, I don't generally think of myself as being ashore, but my late sister's husband lives on a little sailboat and is usually out at sea, so his time ashore is a distinct experience.
26. Verbal hesitations: ERS.
27. Lipton drink: TEA.
28. The Jazz of the NBA, on scoreboards: UTA. The Utah Jazz are a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City.
29. "Most definitely": IT IS. Is the weather getting weirder every year? IT IS.
32. Vlogger devices, informally: CAMS. A vlogger (or video blogger) produces video content to share online. CAMeraS are essential.
34. [Theme clue]
37. Like a room with open windows: AIRY.
40. Parquet floor feature: INLAY. Parquet is a geometric mosaic of wood pieces used for decorative flooring. Inlay is a technique of setting wood or other materials into shallow recesses carved in a base surface so that the inserted pieces are flush with the surrounding surface.
 |
| Parquet floor. |
41. Airport entry org.: TSA. The Transportation Security Administration was established in 2001, in direct response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Originally under the Department of Transportation, the agency was moved to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003.
42. Mentor's pupil: TUTEE.
43. "You told me a thousand times already!": OK OK. But is that enough? IT IS!
44. [Theme clue]
46. Glam gala: FETE.
48. Elderly Shakespearean king: LEAR.
49. All Hallows' __: EVE.
50. 1980s sitcom ET: ALF. ALF was a television sitcom that aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990. The title character, ALF (an acronym for Alien Life Form), crash-lands in the garage of a suburban California family. ALF ran for four seasons, with a total of 97 episodes. Did anyone here watch it?
42. Mentor's pupil: TUTEE.
43. "You told me a thousand times already!": OK OK. But is that enough? IT IS!
44. [Theme clue]
46. Glam gala: FETE.
48. Elderly Shakespearean king: LEAR.
49. All Hallows' __: EVE.
50. 1980s sitcom ET: ALF. ALF was a television sitcom that aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990. The title character, ALF (an acronym for Alien Life Form), crash-lands in the garage of a suburban California family. ALF ran for four seasons, with a total of 97 episodes. Did anyone here watch it?
52. Each and every one: ALL.
54. Not top quality, screenwise: LOW RES. A LOW RESolution display lacks sharpness and fine detail.
56. [Theme clue]
60. Crimson Tide team, familiarly: BAMA. The Alabama Crimson Tide (known as "Bama") represents the University of Alabama in NCAA Division I athletics.
61. October birthstone: OPAL. My sister and I used to speculate about who would inherit Mom's incredible antique opal necklace. Mom had no idea we were interested. She sold it.
 |
| Opal |
62. Baby shower bear: TEDDY.
66. Bad news bringer: OMEN.
67. "Now __ talking!": WE'RE.
68. "I'm so great!": YAY ME.
69. Fixes, as potholes: TARS.
70. Snow glider: SLED.
71. Assessment: TEST.
Down:
1. Record store section: CDS. Compact discs -- the format between vinyl records and online digital music. Except there were a lot of tape formats, too! And audio DVDs. Audiophiles, your comments are welcome.
 |
| CDs |
2. Sound of a diaphragm spasm: HIC. The sound of a hiccup.
3. "__ been meaning to tell you ... ": I'VE.
4. Unit in a complex: CONDO.
5. Hardware detail, for short: SPEC. Hardware SPECifications are the technical details of a computer’s hardware -- such as the processor, memory, storage, graphics card, and operating system -- that define its performance and capabilities. I suppose there are SPECs for other kinds of hardware, too, like nuts, bolts, and hinges.
6. Snowman's eyes, sometimes: COAL.
7. Be in harmony: AGREE.
8. Charles III, e.g.: MONARCH. Ever heard of Charles III? He's the reigning MONARCH in the UK.
9. "Othello" villain: IAGO. Iago is a fictional character in Shakespeare's Othello.
10. Friend who maintains one's watering schedule, say: PLANT SITTER. Or hire a professional!
11. Orchard pick: APPLE.
12. "Bye now": SEE YA.
14. Fill with fear: TERRIFY.
21. Hairy cryptid: YETI. A cryptid is a creature whose existence has been suggested by legends or eyewitness accounts, but whose existence remains unproven or unrecognized by scientific consensus. A prime example is the North American Bigfoot AKA "Sasquatch." The Himalyan Yeti AKA "Abominable Snowman" is another.
22. Govt. intel org.: NSA. The National Security Agency is a U.S. Department of Defense intelligence agency tasked with global monitoring of information, and protecting U.S. government communications networks and information systems.
23. Broadcast's sound component: AUDIO.
24. Didn't do well: STUNK.
25. Cooperstown honoree: HALL OF FAMER. Cooperstown is a village in central New York State, known for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
30. Abbr. in some airport names: INTL. Abbreviation for "international."
31. Doormat fiber: SISAL.
33. "You're Welcome" singer in "Moana": MAUI.
 |
| Moana and Maui |
35. Waterskiing spot: LAKE.
36. Fully gratify: SATE.
38. Superman player Christopher: REEVE. Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) played Superman in the 1978 film and three sequels (1980-1987), along with a number of other fine film performances.
 |
| Christopher Reeve as Superman |
39. Affirmative replies: YESES.
42. Husky, as a voice: THROATY.
44. Guys: FELLOWS.
45. Barrier: WALL.
47. Tavern tally: TAB.
50. Religious brotherhood leader: ABBOT.
51. Vicuña kin: LLAMA. The vicuña is a wild South American camelid which lives in the high alpine areas of the Andes. Vicuñas are relatives of the llama, and are the ancestors of domesticated alpacas. The vicuña is the national animal of Peru and appears on the Peruvian coat of arms.
 |
| Vicuñas |
53. Jacket flap: LAPEL.
55. Flour source: WHEAT.
57. "Dune" film score composer Zimmer: HANS. Hans Zimmer is a German composer who has scored over 150 films. He won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score, for The Lion King (1994) and for Dune (2021).
 |
| Hans Zimmer |
58. Fabled race loser: HARE.
59. Turned light laundry pink accidentally, perhaps: BLED. Who hasn't washed a red shirt and gotten pink socks by accident?
63. Turn light laundry pink intentionally, perhaps: DYE. Cute follow-up to the previous clue.
64. Private app convos: DMS. A DM is a Direct Message, sent privately between social media or app users.
65. As of now: YET. Is it over ... as of now?
Here's the grid:
Do we all AGREE that this was a nifty puzzle? Do I hear YESES?
Or do you think it STUNK?
SEE YA in the comments section!
-- NaomiZ
.jpg)
