The Dog Days of Summer. The first word of each two-word theme answer is a breed of dog.
9-Down. Classmate who helps with a science project: LAB PARTNER. Everything you wanted to know about the Labrador Retriever.
11-Down. Post-retirement period: GOLDEN YEARS. Things you might not know about the Golden Retriever.
25-Down. Briefs alternative: BOXER SHORTS. Everything you ever wanted to know about a Boxer.
30. Hoarse speaker's feature: HUSKY VOICE. Things you might not know about a Husky.
71-Across. Head honcho, and a feature of 9-, 11-, 25-, and 30-Down: TOP DOG. Note that each theme answer is in the Down position with the breed Dog at the Top of the answer.
Here's the Grid, so you can find all the Top Dogs.
Across:
1. Container on a bar top: TIP JAR.
7. Hay bundle: BALE.
11. Wrigley product: GUM.
14. Fire up: AROUSE.
15. Site whose original name was AuctionWeb: EBAY.
16. __ and only: ONE.
17. Literary realm created by C.S. Lewis: NARNIA. Usually its the characters from Narnia are we are asked to identify.
18. Piercing spot: LOBE.
19. "The Book of Mormon" org.: LDS. As in the Latter Day Saints.
20. Winter hat feature: EARFLAP.
22. Big commotions: ADOs. Much Ado About Nothing.
23. "Dancing Queen" pop quartet: ABBA. ABBA was a Swedish pop group that was named using the initials of its 4 members: Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. In 1974, ABBA was Sweden's first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Waterloo.
26. Harp constellation: LYRA. Can't you just see the harp shape??
27. Actress Russo or artist Magritte: RENÉ. One female, one male.
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| René with a René. |
28. "You Bet Your Life" host Marx: GROUCHO. His given name was Julius Henry Marx (Oct. 2, 1890 ~ Aug. 19, 1977). He had two older brothers (Chico and Harpo) and two younger brothers (Gummo and Zeppo).
31. Depleted: DRAINED.
33. Tyrannosaurus __: REX.
34. Throw, as a shot put: HURL.
36. Cafeteria item: TRAY.
37. Fill with wonder: AWE.
38. "Stop asking me!": I SAID NO!
40. Subj. for some citizenship applicants: ESL. As in English as a Second Language. This has become a crossword staple.
43. Skating venue: RINK.
45. Regard as: DEEM.
46. __ moment: AHA!
47. Causes consternation: DISMAYS.
50. Off-campus housing area: FRAT ROW.
52. Amazon gadget activated by saying "Alexa": ECHO.
53. Lemming kin: VOLE. More than you ever wanted to know about Lemmings and Voles.
55. "Full Court Press" network: ESPN.
56. Like some vivid colors: NEON.
57. Wind instrument with an oval body: OCARINA.
60. Sealing goo: TAR.
61. Insta uploads: PICS.
62. Quarterback Joe who was MVP of the 1969 Super Bowl: NAMATH.
66. Writer's rep: AGT. As in Agent.
67. Gets an A+ on: ACES.
68. Small apartment: STUDIO.
69. "__ Misérables": LES. This musical was in the news recently.
70. Love, in tennis: ZERO. Why is Zero called Love in tennis? Who knows?
Down:
1. Browned by the sun: TAN.
2. Nest egg inits.: IRA. As in Individual Retirement Account.
3. __ favor: please, in Spanish: POR. Today's Spanish lesson.
4. Alaska's capital: JUNEAU. The capital of Alaska is named after Joseph Juneau (May 28, 1836 ~ Mar 1, 1899), a French-Canadian gold miner and prospector.
5. Himalayas continent: ASIA.
6. Caboose: REAR. // And 8-Down. On a train: ABOARD.
7. __ laugh: BELLY.
10. Hurricane center: EYE. We have now entered hurricane season. Fortunately, there is no activity yet.
12. Incomplete: UNDONE.
13. Botched, with "up": MESSED.
21. Regional plant life: FLORA.
22. Met solo: ARIA. You knew I was going to include this Aria from Carmen.
23. Taj Mahal city: AGRA.
24. Prepare, as coffee or tea: BREW.
29. Dishes for a special meal: CHINA.
32. Bakery allure: AROMA.
35. To-go cup top: LID.
39. Put off: DEFER.
41. Hunt for bargains: SHOP.
42. Putting green, e.g.: LAWN.
44. "It's showtime!": I'M ON!
47. Insurance type that may complement medical: DENTAL.
48. Global cold spell: ICE AGE.
49. Mia Hamm's sport: SOCCER. Mia Hamm (née Marial Margaret Hamm; b. Mar. 17, 1972) makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.
51. Join forces: TEAM UP.
54. Coach Ted played by Jason Sudeikis: LASSO.
58. Research org.: INST. As an Institution.
59. Alliance headed by Mark Rutte: Abbr.: NATO. Mark Rutte (b. Feb. 17, 1967) is s a Dutch politician who has served as the 14th secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization since October 2024.
61. La __, Bolivia: PAZ.
63. Contribute (to): ADD.
64. Spanish uncle: TIO. More of today's Spanish lesson.
65. Greedy one: HOG.
חתולה
