Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center - their labyrinth website page
Author Norman M. Aaronson had an LA Times crossword back in July on a Wednesday here. Today he returns with a puzzle that was, for me, not a very challenging Friday foray, despite a dozen names and a Natick. Four themers with 'a twist' in the clue, and nothing obscure in the answers; I don't know how this one got published so late in the week; perhaps the oversized 15x16 grid~? Not likely - or maybe I was on his wavelength, and most of the fill was in my wheelhouse; YMMV. ALOT of Twurds & names, not so many 3LWs, no circles, no outliers. Four themers, none spanning, no reveal;
18. Story told with a twist: MYSTERY NOVEL - I am currently reading the "Exoskeleton" series from Shane Stadler, an odd horror/sci-fi/existential series, but I am sticking with it
29. Party gift created with a twist: BALLOON ANIMAL
Bah-dum-tiss
50. Cocktail served with a twist: VESPER MARTINI - Ha~! I wondered if this was the James Bond drink, ordered in the 2006 Daniel Craig 007 movie Casino Royale - and a gratuitous scene for our C.C.
My friend, bring me one as well, keep the fruit . . ." - Felix Leiter
66. Feat performed with a twist: PLATFORM DIVE - but can you do the Triple Lindy~?
ACROSS:
1. Big horn: TUBA - "it's not a TUBA~!"
AAAAhnaaald~!
5. "Scoot!": AMSCRAY - Pig Latin for Scram - the 'language' formation "rules"
12. Winery tub: VAT
15. Human rights lawyer Clooney: AMAL - I know who she is, could not recall the spelling, went with AMAN - Bzzzzt~! - name #1
Hey, I think I know that guy with her . . .
16. Bacon strips: RASHERS
17. Kerfuffle: ADO
20. Replayed tennis serve: LET
21. Gnats, termites, and the like: PESTS
22. River deposit: SILT
23. Timothée Chalamet trilogy set on a desert planet: DUNE - Tried reading this Frank Herbert novel back in middle school, but I just couldn't get into it, and I'm a Sci-Fi guy; I did watch some of the "new" series featuring this actor - and I like the dragonfly things . . . name(ish)
23. Believer in a noninterfering god: DEIST - I believe in "The Force" - I was on a 12-step spritual retreat this past weekend, and I walked the labyrinth pictured at the top on the grounds Sunday morning - now I want to make one in my back yard~!
25. Woes: ILLS
26. Thunder sound: CLAP - what's the sound of ONE thunder bolt clapping~? 🙄
One week to "Cooper"town, Irish Miss~!
28. Wild beast also called a wildebeest: GNU
30. Largest city in the Cornhusker State: OMAHA - Geo name #9, and a Saturday sherpa shout-out
31. Sesame Street's resident Grouch: OSCAR - name #10
32. Fit: ABLE
33. Country singer Lovett: LYLE - name #11, knew it
34. Patron saint of Norway: OLAV - name #12, knew it two ( too )
35. Uncommon: RARE
36. Pool equipment: CUESTICKS - Ah, that kind of pool . . . not the Monday one
40. Railroad station: DEPOT
42. This, in Spanish: ESTO - Español #2
43. Mix: STIR
46. "Blue Bloods" actor Cariou: LEN - I remember he played a role on Law & Order, still, name #13
48. Early afternoon hr.: ONEPM - this, or TWO
51. Rummages (through): RIFLES
52. Big grinders: MOLARS - dental, not deli . . .
53. Sealed the victory: ICEDIT - Two words #4
56. Japanese dog breed: AKITA - name(ish)
57. Mars exploration vehicle: ROVER - could be your Akita dog's name, too . . . 😁
Um, no. D-o went with Uh, YES. Hey, that lady lawyer could'a been named AHAL. That was the beginning and ending of the mystery on this one. But that was enough. Bzzzzzzt. Thanx, Norman and Splynter.
FIW. I was so focused on VESPER MARTINI, TONIO and LEN that I forgot to revisit mALL x DEISm. I erased several entries trying to cram in an african elephant. ALT TAB disabused me of that notion. Also use me->USE BY (I really wanted eat me,) and esta->ESTO,
Never heard of a VESPER MARTINI, but I do remember VESPER Lynd from Casino Royale.
Luckiest man alive: LYLE. (He bagged Julia Roberts.) Luckiest woman alive: AMIL. (She bagged George Clooney.)
Thanks to Norman for the Friday special, and to Splynter for the fun review.
If there was a 'twist' in this puzzle I never noticed it. I had to take a long look at the VESPER MARTINI after OLAV (or OLAF-wasn't sure) finished it. The rest of the puzzle was a Monday level one, with only CHOI and TONIO as unknowns.
AH YES-okay. That's what people say. UM YES- I would say UM NO.
AMAL- I wish the media would quit touting people as activists, influencers, rising stars, podcasters, protestors, human rights this or that and just report the news. With that thought, I'll AMSCRAY.
You nailed your summary, Splynter, this was the easiest Friday in memory. I just had a different Natick at LEN crossing TONIO, but I guess N was the only real choice. And thanks for the balloon animal toon!
I spent a little time at the end trying to discover the theme until I realized it was outside the grid and in the clues.
The puzzle itself was fine but was by no means a Friday theme or challenge. Choi and Vesper Martini were the only unknowns but easily sussed. Omaha is becoming a fairly regular entry. Does anyone know why bacon portions are referred to as rashers? Overall, an easy solve but a disappointing Friday offering.
Thanks, Norman, and thanks, Splynter, for the detailed review and commentary, especially the breakdown of the various pluses and minuses of the cluing and fill. Enjoy your Cooper-sitting duties.
I didn't know the Actors of the Day (Choi & Len) and I struggled with the foreign language lessons (estas, esto, & etre). "Rashers" was also a learning moment.
I agree, pretty easy for a Friday. The theme was evident at MYSTERY NOVEL. The V of unknown VESPER was the last cell to fill. It sounded better than fESPER. One other unknown CHOI.
I don’t guess people use pig Latin today. TERRACE SEEMS odd for a bbq locale.
Thank you Splynter for a fun and informative review.
FIR. For a Friday I found this to be fairly easy. For the most part the cluing was quite fair. I got the theme early on and that helped a lot. I'd never heard of a vesper martini, but since I don't drink it's not surprising. I'm lost when it comes to mixed drinks. Overall an enjoyable puzzle.
The crossing of “Len”
ReplyDeleteand “Tonio” wasn’t really fair, in my opinion. And I have other little nits like that.
Nevertheless, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteUm, no. D-o went with Uh, YES. Hey, that lady lawyer could'a been named AHAL. That was the beginning and ending of the mystery on this one. But that was enough. Bzzzzzzt. Thanx, Norman and Splynter.
FIW. I was so focused on VESPER MARTINI, TONIO and LEN that I forgot to revisit mALL x DEISm. I erased several entries trying to cram in an african elephant. ALT TAB disabused me of that notion. Also use me->USE BY (I really wanted eat me,) and esta->ESTO,
ReplyDeleteNever heard of a VESPER MARTINI, but I do remember VESPER Lynd from Casino Royale.
Luckiest man alive: LYLE. (He bagged Julia Roberts.) Luckiest woman alive: AMIL. (She bagged George Clooney.)
Thanks to Norman for the Friday special, and to Splynter for the fun review.
ReplyDeleteIf there was a 'twist' in this puzzle I never noticed it. I had to take a long look at the VESPER MARTINI after OLAV (or OLAF-wasn't sure) finished it. The rest of the puzzle was a Monday level one, with only CHOI and TONIO as unknowns.
AH YES-okay. That's what people say. UM YES- I would say UM NO.
AMAL- I wish the media would quit touting people as activists, influencers, rising stars, podcasters, protestors, human rights this or that and just report the news. With that thought, I'll AMSCRAY.
You nailed your summary, Splynter, this was the easiest Friday in memory. I just had a different Natick at LEN crossing TONIO, but I guess N was the only real choice. And thanks for the balloon animal toon!
ReplyDeleteI spent a little time at the end trying to discover the theme until I realized it was outside the grid and in the clues.
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteThe puzzle itself was fine but was by no means a Friday theme or challenge. Choi and Vesper Martini were the only unknowns but easily sussed. Omaha is becoming a fairly regular entry. Does anyone know why bacon portions are referred to as rashers? Overall, an easy solve but a disappointing Friday offering.
Thanks, Norman, and thanks, Splynter, for the detailed review and commentary, especially the breakdown of the various pluses and minuses of the cluing and fill. Enjoy your Cooper-sitting duties.
Have a great day.
Took 6:09 today to finish with Chubby Checker.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the Actors of the Day (Choi & Len) and I struggled with the foreign language lessons (estas, esto, & etre). "Rashers" was also a learning moment.
I miss the old Friday-level crossword puzzles.
I agree, pretty easy for a Friday. The theme was evident at MYSTERY NOVEL. The V of unknown VESPER was the last cell to fill. It sounded better than fESPER. One other unknown CHOI.
ReplyDeleteI don’t guess people use pig Latin today. TERRACE SEEMS odd for a bbq locale.
Thank you Splynter for a fun and informative review.
FIR. For a Friday I found this to be fairly easy. For the most part the cluing was quite fair.
ReplyDeleteI got the theme early on and that helped a lot. I'd never heard of a vesper martini, but since I don't drink it's not surprising. I'm lost when it comes to mixed drinks.
Overall an enjoyable puzzle.