Theme: NON-AUSTRALIAN LANDS DOWN UNDER. The theme fill are vertical, and that usually indicates that the orientation is significant. We'll see shortly what that means.
3 D. New Mexico pepper: HATCH CHILE. Hatch Chile refers to any long green New Mexican chile pepper (Capsicum annuum) commercially grown within the Hatch Valley of southern New Mexico. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is not a pepper, but rather a country in the Southern Cone of southwestern South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, extending along a narrow strip of land between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. According to the 2024 census, Chile had an enumerated population of 18.5 million.
9 D. Sneaker with the Jumpman logo: AIR JORDAN. Air Jordan is a popular line of basketball shoes and athletic apparel created by Nike in collaboration with Michael Jordan. On the other hand - or foot - Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and both Israel and Palestine (West Bank) to the west. The Jordan River, flowing into the Dead Sea, is located along the country's western border within the Jordan Rift Valley.
16 D. Ballot dangler in 2000 election news: HANGING CHAD. A hanging chad is a small, perforated piece of paper (a "chad") that fails to detach completely from a punch-card ballot after a voter pushes a stylus through it. On that topic, more than this I will not say. Hanging below Lybia is Chad, officially the Republic of Chad, a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon to the southwest, Nigeria to the southwest (at Lake Chad), and Niger to the west.
32 D. All set: READY TO GO. Ready to go means you are completely prepared, equipped, or willing to start an activity, leave a place, or handle a task. Are you ready to go to Togo (officially the Togolese Republic) a narrow country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, Burkina Faso to the north, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south?
And the unifier: 28 D. Region of South Carolina and Georgia, or what can be found in 3-, 9-, 16-, and 32-Down: LOW COUNTRY. Though my first thought was The Netherlands in Europe. Oh, well. In Puzzleland, the country names are located in the low parts of the theme fill. Clever, I'd say.
1. Second-largest city in Pakistan: LAHORE. Lahore is the capital and largest city of the Pakistani province of Punjab. It is the second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and 27th largest in the world, with a population of over 14 million.
7. Tells a fish story, maybe: BOASTS. Talks with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one's own achievements, possessions, or skills, often in a way that exaggerates the truth or irritates others.
13. 40-Across layer: ENAMEL. The hard, mineralized outer layer of teeth in the human body, made of about 95% to 96% minerals formed from calcium and phosphate—along with water and proteins.
14. Rodgers and Hammerstein show tune covered by Perry Como: BALI HAI. This is from the 1949 stage musical South Pacific. It was made into a movie in 1958.
15. "Charge!": ATTACK. Conduct an aggressive action, physical assault, or forceful effort directed against a person, group, object, or system.
16. Bread for a bacon, egg, and cheese, often: HARD ROLL. A round, crusty yeast bread roll with a firm, golden exterior and a soft, airy interior.
17. Carved-out corner: NICHE. A specialized role, a shallow recess in a wall, or a targeted segment of an activity or market.
18. Gasp for breath: PANT. To breathe quickly, loudly, or in a labored manner, such as after running, exercising, or from excitement.
19. Triple espresso effect: JOLT. A sudden, sharp surge of energy, mental alertness, and physical stimulation caused by consuming caffeine.
20. Submit: HAND IN. To give something—such as a piece of work, a form, or a lost object—to a person in authority.
22. Before now: AGO. In the past.
24. Circle segment: ARC. A connected portion of a circle's circumference, classified into minor arcs (under 180°), semicircles (180°), and major arcs (over 180°).
26. Key lime pie feature: TANG. A strong, sharp taste or smell
27. Root ball wrapper: BURLAP. A coarse, heavy, plain-woven fabric made primarily from natural plant fibers such as jute, hemp, or flax.
31. Bert who played the Cowardly Lion: LAHR. Irving Lahrheim [1895-1967] known professionally as Bert Lahr, was an American actor and comedian. He was best known for his role as the Cowardly Lion, as well as his counterpart Kansas farmworker "Zeke", in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.
33. Guest speaker's platform: DAIS. A raised platform or small stage located at the front or end of a room or hall.
35. Southwestern building block: ADOBE. A natural building material made from a mixture of sun-dried earth, clay, water, and organic fibers such as straw or grass.
36. Farewell that's bid: ADIEU. A French-derived word that means "goodbye" or "farewell."
38. Blasting material: TNT. Trinitrotoluene, a yellow, odorless, crystalline chemical compound (C₇H₅N₃O₆) that is widely used as a high explosive in military munitions and industrial demolitions.
39. Imitated a crow: CAWED. Made a loud, harsh, or rough cry characteristic of birds such as crows, ravens, or rooks.
40. Back tooth: MOLAR. A large, flat back tooth used for crushing and chewing food.
41. Enthralled: AGOG. Very excited, eager, or curious to see, hear, or know more about something
43. March Madness org.: NCAA. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, a non-profit organization that regulates intercollegiate athletic programs in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. March madness is a basketball tounament held every spring.
44. Uptight: ON EDGE. Feeling nervous, tense, irritable, or unable to relax.
46. Chowder protein: CLAM. In a culinary context, protein refers to the primary, substantial center-piece component of a meal—such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, lentils, or tofu.
48. Fla. NBA team: ORL. The Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association, a North American professional league.
49. Vote in favor: YEA. Used in parliamentary, congressional, or organizational roll-call votes to mean a supportive vote ("yes"), contrasted with nay ("no").
50. "Yo!": HEY, YOU. An informal greeting used to say hello, get someone's attention, or establish a sense of familiarity and affection.
52. Help in wrongdoing: ABET. Help, support, encourage, or assist someone—most commonly in committing a crime, wrongdoing, or illicit act.
55. "Project Hail Mary" actor Gosling: RYAN. Ryan Thomas Gosling [b. 1980] is a Canadian actor, singer, and musician. Known for his work in both independent films and major studio features, his films as a leading actor have grossed over US$4 billion worldwide.
57. Kirsten of "Melancholia": DUNST. Kirsten Caroline Dunst [b. 1982] is an American actress and singer. She made her acting debut in the anthology film New York Stories and has since starred in many film and television productions.
60. Lamented: BEMOANED. Expressed sorrow, grief, discontent, or dissatisfaction about something.
62. Get comfortable, with "in": SETTLE. Become familiar, comfortable, and relaxed in a new environment, routine, or situation.
63. Treat at New Orleans' Café du Monde: BEIGNET. A French-style deep-fried pastry made from choux pastry or a light yeast-leavened dough, typically cut into squares and dusted generously with powdered sugar.
64. Arts supporter: PATRON. A financial or moral supporter of an artist, cause, or institution,
65. Bit of progress: INROAD. A direct, noticeable advance or intrusion into a new territory, market, or problem
66. Like a raw hemline: FRAYED. Describes fabric, clothing, or rope with threads or fibers coming apart at the edges from wear, damage, or rubbing.
Down:
1. Like a chicken burger: LEAN. Low in fat.
2. Opposed to: ANTI. Against someone or some thing.
4. Nebraska home of the Durham Museum: OMAHA. Omaha is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about 10 mi (15 km) north of the mouth of the Platte River. Omaha had a population of 486,051 at the 2020 census,
5. Fairly new: RECENT. Happening, starting, or done a short time ago, or newly created.
6. Bugling deer: ELK. A large hoofed mammal of the deer family (Cervidae.)
7. Rounds of the night table?: BAR TAB. A running total or bill for all the drinks and food you order during a single visit, allowing you to pay once at the end of the night instead of paying for each item immediately. Clever clue.
8. Not new: OLD. Primarily means having lived, existed, or been in use for a relatively long time or for a specified duration. Do I qualify? All my grandchildren are adults.
10. "Scram!": SHOO. Go away.
11. Like a giant redwood: TALL. An adjective that describes someone or something with a height greater than average or normal, or with a large vertical distance from bottom to top.
12. Delta deposit: SILT. A fine-grained granular sediment with a particle size falling between sand and clay
14. Outlaw: BAN. A legal, formal, or official prohibition that forbids an action, item, or person from being used, allowed, or happening.
18. Party animal?: PIÑATA. A decorated container— often in the shape of an animal, typically made of papier-mâché, cloth, or pottery—filled with candy, fruit, small toys, or treats.
21. Jerry Stiller, to Ben Stiller: DAD. Father and son.
23. Green blob on a taco, familiarly: GUAC. Short for guacamole, a traditional Mexican dip, spread, or condiment made primarily from mashed or pureed ripe avocados.
24. San Antonio school trip destination: ALAMO. Originally built in 1718 as the Spanish mission Mission San Antonio de Valero in San Antonio, Texas, it later became a military fort. The fort was named after the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras, a Spanish military unit from Santiago del Álamo that was stationed there.
25. Gas measured in a home inspection: RADON. A heavy, colorless, odorless, and tasteless radioactive noble gas (symbol Rn, atomic number 86) formed naturally by the decay of radium, uranium, and thorium in rocks, soil, and groundwater.
29. Build-__ Workshop: toy retailer: A BEAR. A global, interactive retail brand where customers design and customize their own stuffed animals, such as teddy bears, bunnies, and licensed character plushies.
30. Go by bike: PEDAL. To push the pedals of a bicycle, boat, or similar device with your feet to move it.
34. Pinched: STOLEN. Acquired with the 5-finger discount.
37. Exhort: URGE. To strongly encourage, advise, or earnestly try to persuade someone to do something..
42. Like some Pride Month celebrants: GAY. Refers to a person who is physically, romantically, or emotionally attracted to people of the same gender.
45. Did the work for: EARNED. Earn is a verb that means to receive money, profit, or a reward in return for work, service, or effort, or to get something that you deserve through your actions.
47. Term of affection: MY DEAR. a term of affection, endearment, or polite address used to refer to someone you love, care about, or feel familiar with.
51. "Get __ here!": "Scram!": OUTTA. Go away.
52. "Broad City" star Jacobson: ABBI. Abbi Jacobson [b. 1984] is an American comedian, actress, writer, producer, and illustrator. She co-created and co-starred in the Comedy Central series Broad City with Ilana Glazer, based on the web series of the same name.
53. Has-__: BEEN. An informal, often critical term for a person who used to be famous, popular, powerful, or successful, but is no longer.
54. Qatar leader: EMIR. A title meaning commander, leader, prince, or ruler in Arabic and Islamic societies.
56. Still: YET. Up to the present time.
58. Gin infusion berry: SLOE. The small, dark, bluish-black drupe (stone fruit) of the blackthorn.
59. Watch over, as sheep: TEND. To look after, minister to, supervise, or run something. A gentle, loving sheep watcher would be a tender tender.
61. The NHL's Ducks, on sports tickers: ANA. The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. The Ducks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. The team plays its home games at Honda Center.
62. Block letters?: SPF. The surface meaning refers to a style of writing or printing in all uppercase (capital) letters where each character is drawn separately and clearly without cursive or joined-up strokes. The applied-to-a-[skin]-surface meaning is Solar Protection Factor, an indication of the uv blocking power of a sunscreen lotion.
Well, Summer is now long gone and, here in Michigan, we won't need sunscreen for the next several months. But here we have a puzzle with quite a few bright, shiny ideas, and some cleverly mis-directing clues. I have no nits. Hope you didn't get burned.
Cool regards!
JzB
That was pretty tough.
ReplyDeleteHowever, at least the reveal made sense, and was helpful, in a way.
FIR, so I’m happy.
FIR, but ere->AGO, and beignot->BEIGNET.
ReplyDeleteThe only Perry Como song I can remember is Dream Along With Me. My parents were fond of his TV show. Not that they had much choice - the only TV station we could receive was WSAZ-TV, an NBC outlet in Huntington, WV.
HEY YOU is also one of many great tracks from Pink Floyd's fantastic album The Wall. It was also the (crossword favorite) B-side of the single Comfortably Numb.
I was a CNN fanatic from Gulf War I until the HANGING CHAD controversy in 2000. Its lopsided coverage of that important event drove me away.
Thanks to Kelly for the fun puzzle that appeared to be a toughie at first, but turned out to be only moderately hard. The only showbiz junk was the unknown (to me) Broad City and its unknown (to me) star ABBI. My favorite was "block letters?" for SPF. And thanks to JzB for the thorough review.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteI recognized JzB's style immediately -- always thorough, and I always learn something. Methinks HATCH CHILE was Kelly's seed entry; everybody else spells it "chili" and that wouldn't play with the country theme. You seldom hear MY DEAR, unless it prefaced by "frankly." I'm still waiting on a new MOLAR crown for an 11-year-old dental implant. It suffered a subsurface fracture and the oral surgeon had to go on a fishing expedition to retrieve the lower piece. He was able to fit a new abutment onto the implant. Perry Como's BALI HAI is one of many 1940's hits on my music server. Interesting puzzle, Kelly. I enjoyed your fact-filled expo, JzB.
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteAs usual, vertical themes go right over my head until the reveal clue, but today I gave that clue a cursory glance and briefly checked an across entry, to no avail. It wasn’t until I completed the entire grid and then checked the downs that I saw the theme. And what a clever and surprising theme it was! It was very well hidden, at least to me, and the sheer freshness and execution were an absolute delight. Any unknowns, i.e., Abbi, Hatch Chile, etc. were easily perped.
Thanks, Kelly, for a very enjoyable solve and thanks, JazzB, for the usual entertaining and enlightening review.
Have a great day.
FIR. This had just a little bit of bite to it for a Wednesday. Beignet crossing with Ana required a WAG on my part.
ReplyDeleteThe theme eluded me even with the reveal. I had to come here to have it explained.
Overall a so-so puzzle.
Nicely done world tour from Kelly. Having grown up in Williamsburg, VA, I like to visit historical cities like Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC in the LOW COUNTRY.
ReplyDeleteLOW COUNTRY can also be the bass player at a hoedown!
I had to take a WAG at the "H" in HATCH CHILE.
My "party animal" was a DONKEY before PINATA.
Thanks as always Jazzy.
Hatch Chile was a complete unknown and the can't Low Country(s) flew over my head. ABBI and her show came from perps. No other unknowns.
ReplyDeleteNeat puzzle. The reveal was slow to come because of the SE, the name DUNST stopped me. Once I got the LOW COUNTRY, all fell into place and the theme became obvious.
ReplyDeleteABBI and ANA appeared on their own and the R of ORL and BEAR was an easy WAG. I too wanted the donkey before the PIÑATA. Many, many years AGO, I had the LP album of South Pacific and played it frequently so BALI HAI filled right off.
A triple espresso would give me more than a JOLT. 🤣 Nothing like the BEIGNETS at the Café du Monde paired with their wonderful coffee. No JOLT there.
Thank you JzB for that great review.
J ust needed 6:01 today.
ReplyDeleteA ctresses of the Day were split - I knew "Dunst" but not "Abbi" or her show.
P lease don't cross those proper nouns anymore. I'm looking at you: hatch chile and Lahore.
A nyone near NOLA should enjoy those beignets and chicory coffee.
N ever heard "low country" before this August when we spent a week in Hilton Head, SC.
Musings
ReplyDelete-I’ll take ABBI/BEIGNET as a learning moment to earn a “got ‘er done”
-A golf partner had an impacted MOLAR last week, had surgery and he is still in some pain taking ibuprofen, Advil and other things.
-My DW forces me to throw away my old FRAYED tee shirts
-"Rounds of the night" was oh so clever cluing
-I remember Rosemary Clooney’s version of Hey There from the play The Pajama Game. Did I mention that I am old? :-)
Hey There is another of those oldies on my music service.
DeleteWhen I was due to get out of the Navy, I decided to get some routine dental/medical procedures out of the way on Uncle Sam's dollar. One of those was an impacted wisdom tooth. I should've waited. The Navy dentist used a chisel and mallet to break the tooth in two and then a pliers to pull out the pieces. I was sick for a week.
Advil is ibuprofen. Hope he’s not double dosing. Quite a stomach irritant
DeleteWonderful Wednesday. Thanks for the fun, Kelly and JazzB.
ReplyDeleteI FIRed but forgot to go back for the theme until I got here. And then I was looking at the “high” word and scratching my head. D’uh!
It was clever.
I started out with a sea of white in the north, but kept going and the south filled. When I went back and got LEAN, the northwest broke open.
BALI HAI was an oldie that I dredged out of my memory with a few perps.
I had to correct DiaS to DAIS for my CHAD to be HANGING.
Hand up for ere before AGO.
I waited for perps to decide between yes and YEA. We had ANTI TOO.
Wishing you all a great day.
Yikes! What I thought was the first answer I could fill and be 💯 % correct: ere was even wrong (AGO), but then speed picked up. The theme? Missed it even with a JOLT from my morning double “espresso” cappuccino. LOW COUNTRY: Netherlands 🇳🇱
ReplyDeleteInkovers: ..awed/AGOG, easels/PATRON, whey/CLAM(?) c’mon Kelly
Who makes Key Lime Pie with TANG 😝. CHAD: In 2000, when we found out it wasn’t just a country 🇹🇩 or “Karen’s” husband. “BALI HAI is a “show tune” traditionally sung by a female. Perry Como? (Bet no one under 60 knows who he was?)..Not sure how to spell ben-yay … ENAMEL 🦷 (almost put plaque). HATCH 🌶️?
Actor’s challenge: HARDROLL
French kerfuffle: ADIEU
_____ the knight to save the day… INROAD
Wait and wait for DW to put herself together. Finally pick up a book out of boredom. Eventually I hear “What are you doing? Put down the book! We are READY TO GO!”
🙄
Hola! Yum! HATCH CHILE, and CHILE is spelled correctly! Thinking about it really makes me miss my mother and her great cooking. Her CHILE, either red or green, had such a unique flavor. My sister, Marge, can make a good imitation of it.
ReplyDeleteI am old enough to remember Perry Como and BALI HAI, I hear you calling, etc.
In my hometown of Concho, all the homes were made of ADOBE. Only the school was made of sturdier material and it still stands today, unlike the houses which have melted and collapsed.
I've seen young people wearing FRAYED jeans which seems to be the style today.
I know of the LOW COUNTRY only because my sister lives in Charlotte and we have visited there.
I really dislike the term GUAC. Guacamole is a lovely word though most mispronounce it. The G is silent or more like a W.
Enjoy your day, everyone. Thank you, JazzB, for the fine narration.