Monday August 18, 2025 Amanda Cook

  

Happy Monday, everyone! Today's puzzle comes to us from the marvelous mind of Amanda Cook. You may recall that Amanda constructed the EXCHANGE puzzle published the Sunday before yesterday. Today marks her 16th LAT publication. Sweet! 

Theme:  

We'll start with the four themers:

17 Across. Avant-garde: CUTTING EDGE.  

CUTTING BOARD

23 Across. Assets and liabilities statement: BALANCE SHEET.  

A BALANCE BOARD is a piece of fitness equipment.
How to Select the Best BALANCE BOARD for You

39 Across. Stylistic faux pas that puts an editor between a rock and a black sheep?: MIXING METAPHORS.  This clue provides an example of what MIXING METAPHORS is. It takes two metaphors, "between a rock and a hard place" and "black sheep" and combines them in a way that does not really fit.  

A MIXING BOARD combines audio recordings.
Perhaps you have seen one in a movie scene set in a recording studio.

51 Across. Illumination that sets a tone: MOOD LIGHTING.  

A MOOD BOARD is a collage of colors, fabric swatches, shapes, etc.
They can be helpful when organizing ideas for a decorating project.

63 Across. List of top-scoring players, and what the start of 17-, 23-, 39-, or 51-Across could be called?: LEADER BOARD.  

This is a LEADER BOARD from a golf tournament.

All four of the themed answers are two-word phrases. The first word can be put in front of (i.e., LEAD) the word BOARD to create something new. Not being familiar with a couple of the answers did not impede my solve. MIXING METAPHORS gets full points for not only working with the theme and spanning the grid, but it is also a fun answer for us word lovers.

Now let's close this door and start a new chapter:

Across:

1. Like some histories: ORAL.

5. Scents such as freshly baked bread and clean laundry: AROMAS.  Both are appealing smells.

11. Cave mammal: BAT.  This was my favorite clue today! At first I was trying to think of big, furry, hibernating mammals.  

a BAT in a cave

14. Zilch: NONE.

15. __ Creed: Mass recitation: NICENE.  It is recited as part of the Catholic Mass. You can read it here.

16. Flamenco cry: OLÉ.

19. Was victorious: WON.

20. Live and breathe: EXIST.  This was a fun use of a known expression!

21. Feel under the weather: AIL.

22. Cabin timber: PINE.

27. King Arthur's realm: CAMELOT.  

1470 reproduction of Évrard d'Espinques's illumination of the Prose Lancelot,
 showing King Arthur presiding at the Round Table with his knights,

30. Compete in a slalom: SKI.

31. Alias letters: AKA.  Also Known As  

32. Dozes (off): NODS.  Off inside the parenthesis means that it is combined with the answer to match dozes. In other words, the clue-writing convention is telling us that dozes means NODS off.

35. Archipelago unit: ISLET.

43. Take potshots (at): SNIPE.  

 I find it difficult to believe this beautiful SNIPE 
would take potshots at anyone. 

44. Repeated word in a Doris Day classic: SERA.  I have previously linked the Doris Day song a few times. Today I am presenting something different. In this song, the artist uses a MIXING BOARD to sample Doris Day. (Sample means to use a piece of a pre-existing work in a new piece.) It might not be your cup of tea but perhaps you will find it interesting. 

Wax Tailor     ~     Que Sera     ~    2020

45. Tear (apart): RIP.

46. Archer's asset: AIM.

48. Positives: UPSIDES.  

56. Storylines: ARCS.  Babylon 5 (1994) is usually credited as the first U.S. television series with a 5-year story ARC conceptualized prior to filming. I describe it as "United Nations in space". 

Bruce Boxleitner is front and center.

57. Salty expanse: SEA.     and     7-Down. Atlantic, for one: OCEAN.

58. Pirouetting, say: ON TOE.  Think "ballet".

62. Tabby: CAT.  

This is Coco, my SIL's new tabby CAT.

66. Feasted on: ATE.

67. Achieve fame: ARRIVE.  

68. Arancini ingredient: RICE.  These are new to me. They are Italian RICE balls.  

recipe

69. Sopping: WET.  

"WET dog" smell is up there with those in 5-Across.

70. Organized workflow: SYSTEM.

71. Flair: ELAN.

Down:

1. __ upon a time: ONCE.

2. Gumbo thickener: ROUX.  Def.: (noun) a cooked mixture of flour and fat used as a thickening agent in a soup or a sauce.

BTW, the plural form is also ROUX.

3. Against: ANTI.

4. Doesn't disturb: LETS BE.  

This is a scene from one of my favorite movies, Yesterday (2019). The premise is that a struggling musician wakes up to an alternate reality where he is the only one on Earth who knows who the Beatles are or any of their songs. In this scene, he tries to play Let It Be for his parents. They are completely unaware of how amazing the song was in the previous reality. (3:29 min.)  

5. Rashida's "Parks and Recreation" role: ANN.  

Rashida Jones as the very likable ANN Perkins

6. Fix, as a fight: RIG.

8. Soldier trained in first aid: MEDIC.

9. "I teach geometry, so I know all the __": math professor's quip: ANGLES.  Groan!

10. Observe: SEE.

11. "Starman" singer David: BOWIE.  Me:  This clue is too hard because the only Starman song I know is by David Bowie...oh, wait...that fits. Never mind.  

Here is the 1972 song:

12. Unaccompanied: ALONE.

13. Core belief: TENET.

18. Lang. of Rome: ITAL.  language and Italian

22. Run an email scam: PHISH.  This term comes from the idea of fishing. Just as a fisherman dangles bait on a hook, internet scammers send out bait to computer users.

This is an early scene (not a spoiler) in the movie The Beekeeper (2024). Unfortunately it contains a lot of F-bombs but I encourage you to watch it because it portrays how bad people scam money from good people via the internet. This 4:28 min. scene might help you prevent your life savings from being stolen by nefarious hackers.  If you are ever in doubt, call your bank. Do not use the number 'conveniently' provided by the scammer. Do not click on their links!!!

24. __ division: LONG.  Yay, it's an excuse for me to insert another Old 97's song! This is Singular Girl from 1999.

Talking to you girl is like LONG division, yeah  🎵

25. Molecule makeup: ATOMS.

26. Pass over: SKIP.

27. Zoom devices, familiarly: CAMS.  cameras

28. Related (to): AKIN.

29. Ankle-length skirt: MAXI.

33. Hollywood ending?: DEE.  This is one of those meta clues. The last letter in Hollywood is the letter D.

34. Confident stride: STRUT.

36. "Bridgerton" title: LORD.  Bridgerton is a Netflix drama based on novels by Julia Quinn. It is set in the 19th century and follows eight siblings seeking relationships. It has been compared to a cross between Jane Austen and Scandal. LORD Anthony Bridgerton is one of the characters.

37. Cleveland's lake: ERIE.

38. Baking amts.: TSPS. amounts and teaspoons

40. Apple tablets: IPADS.

41. Singer Diamond: NEIL.  (b. Jan. 24, 1941). I'm a fan!  

Neil Diamond     ~     You Don't Bring Me Flowers     ~     1977

written by Neil Diamon with Alan and Marilyn Bergman

42. Heritage celebrated in May, for short: AAPI.  Asian American and Pacific Islander

I see that this answer appeared a year ago in a Universal crossword puzzle. It was also used twice in 2023 in USA Today puzzles.

47. Great suffering: MISERY.  This is THAT scene from the movie Misery (1990), based on Stephen King's psychological horror novel.  WARNING:  Do not watch this video if you have not already seen the movie!! It is absolute MISERY and it will haunt you.

49. Hoity-toity type: SNOB.

50. Send to voicemail, perhaps: IGNORE.  I'm happy to be guilty of this. I try to be present in whatever I'm doing. That means I do not let my phone interrupt me just because it dings or rings. The great thing about a cell phone is that it can accept messages which I can view later.

51. Colorful parrot: MACAW.  

Both males and females share this brilliant coloration.

52. Deliver a speech: ORATE.

53. Chamber music configuration: OCTET.

54. Bike parts: GEARS.  

55. "You've never __ so good": HAD IT.

59. Follow covertly: TAIL.  This is a 2:08 min. scene from The French Connection (1971). Gene Hackman is trying to TAIL Fernando Rey:  

60. Marine apex predator: ORCA.  

61. Idyllic place: EDEN.  

63. __ Vegas Aces: LAS.  This is a WNBA team.

64. Night before: EVE.  I wonder what EVE did the night before she was cast out of the Garden of EDEN.

65. "Shiny Happy People" band: REM.  Here is that 1991 song:  

The grid:  

See you later, crocodile!

(I wrote that before doing yesterday's puzzle.)

Sunday August 10, 2025 Amanda Cook

Theme: "EXCHANGE" - Ex is added to a common phrase, then removed from the next one, alternating in order.

22. Student council leader with demanding bake sale goals?: EXACTING PRESIDENT. Acting president.

33. Drama at the salon?: HAIR TENSIONS. Hair extensions. 

49. "Halt all Acela trains immediately!"?: STOP THE EXPRESSES. Stop the presses. 

65. Wizard at converting spreadsheets to PDF?: EXPORT AUTHORITY. Port authority. 

82. Spending one's days reading philosophy and meditating?: PENSIVE LIFESTYLE. Expensive lifestyle.

98. Shocking article proving the conspiracy theory that birds aren't real?: PIGEON EXPOSE. Pigeon pose.

111. Status of an unexpectedly viral research study?: CITED BEYOND BELIEF. Excited beyond belief.

I wonder if Amanda planned to have one more theme entry with EX removed but could not find a workable candidate. 

Total 105 theme squares. About our average. This grid was so carefully filled, no obscure names or Abbrs.

Across:

1. Times up: AT BATS.

7. Brightest star in the constellation Lyra: VEGA.

11. Look (like): SEEM.

15. Bowler or boater: HAT.

18. Vegetable in some cakes: CARROT. In Guangzhou, we have taro cakes, traditional Spring Festival treats.

19. "Pronto!": ASAP.

20. __ dish: PETRI.

21. Fútbol cheer: OLE.

25. Accessory that may match a prom date's dress: TIE.

26. Wistful exhalation: SIGH.

27. Coffee or tea: NOUN. Not BREW.

28. Mauna __: KEA.

29. From days past: OLDEN.

31. First name in cosmetics: ESTEE.

37. Fuming: IRATE.

40. Purple bloom: LILAC. We have pink lilacs here.

42. Mailing: SENDING.

43. Skater Harding: TONYA.

44. Had the courage: DARED.

46. Desktop feature since Windows 95: TASK BAR.

54. Nice one: UNE. Nice, France. 

55. Fashion: MODE.

56. Landmark Obama legislation, initially: ACA.

57. Kodiak, for one: BEAR.

58. Fruit soda created by Coca-Cola Deutschland: FANTA.

60. Before, poetically: ERE.

61. Bonfire remnants: ASH.

62. Confide in: TRUST.

64. Shimmering threads: TINSEL.

69. Selling points?: STORES.

72. Comes by honestly: EARNS.

73. UFO pilots: ETS.

74. "Harriet the __": kid-lit classic: SPY.

77. Himalayan country: NEPAL. They live in year 2082 now. Nepali calendar is about 56 years and 8 months ahead of the Gregorian calendar.

 

78. Like an underwatered plant: LIMP. I now have a peony besides my Asiatic lilies. Let's see if it blooms next year. 

79. Slick-back product: GEL.

80. Item removed at a TSA checkpoint: SHOE.

81. Raw bar bed: ICE.

87. Put into words: PHRASED.

90. Spud: TATER.

91. Cookies that may be crumbled to make cheesecake crust: OREOS.

92. Claims: ALLEGES.

95. Warble: TRILL.

97. Wetland: MARSH.

101. Like sardines: BONED. My RA doc says I can enjoy all the sardines I want. So I will. 

103. Henhouse perch: ROOST.

104. __ for the course: PAR.

105. Croft of "Tomb Raider": LARA.

106. Marcel Duchamp genre: DADA.

110. Be in debt: OWE.

117. Spoil: MAR.

118. Cherish: ADORE.

119. Connection: BOND.

120. Warm-up for a headliner: OPENER.

121. Walk-__: ONS.

122. Vent: RANT.

123. Software issues: BUGS.

124. Cozy eatery: BISTRO.

Down: 

1. King toppers: ACES.

2. Hailed ride: TAXI.

3. Gloat: BRAG.

4. Perfect example: ARCHETYPE. Three more great 9's in the Down slots: 7. Inkling: VAGUE IDEA. 79. The Go-Go's and the Bangles: GIRL BANDS. 80. Is on both sides of: STRADDLES. Plus a pair of 10s: 15. Ball Park Franks holders: HOT DOG BUNS. And 71. Donizetti devotees: OPERA-GOERS. 

5. Kiddo: TOT.

6. Period of work: STINT.

8. "First Take" network: ESPN.

9. Needle-nosed fish: GAR. Huge.

10. Donkey Kong, e.g.: APE.

11. Steady and measured: SEDATE.

12. Le Tour de France saison: ETE. Did you know that those bikes cost more than $13K?

13. Sea eagle: ERN.

14. Cell division process: MITOSIS.

16. Stitch, for one: ALIEN.

17. Many first-year students: TEENS.

20. Jetties: PIERS.

23. "The Great British Baking Show" co-host Fielding: NOEL.

24. Hit the slopes: SKI.

30. "The Legend of Zelda" protagonist: LINK.

32. Ticket assignment: SEAT.

33. Concerto instrument: HARP.

34. HP competitor: ACER.

35. "It's open!": ENTER.

36. Secrecy docs: NDAS.

37. Words before and after "hi, I'm the problem" in Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero": IT'S ME.

38. Brake disc: ROTOR.

39. Battery part: ANODE.

41. Easygoing: LAX.

45. Premieres: DEBUTS.

47. Stake: ANTE.

48. Genuine: REAL.

50. Shed fasteners: HASPS.

51. Cavern effect: ECHO.

52. Casual band practice: SESH. Session. 

53. Puerto Rican rescue mutt: SATO. Learning moment for me. AI Overview: A Sato is Puerto Rican slang for a mutt or mixed-breed dog, particularly those that are stray or abandoned on the island.

58. Needs no tailoring: FITS.

59. Whichever: ANY.

61. Skating jump: AXEL.

62. La Brea attraction: TAR PIT.

63. Cry in a horror film: RUN.

64. IMDb search result: TITLE.

65. Pitching stat: ERA.

66. Bridle part: REIN.

67. Doctoral regalia: TAMS.

68. Utah's Capitol __ National Park: REEF. 

69. Scissors sound: SNIP.

70. Bay Area industry: TECH.

74. More demure: SHYER.

75. Tops that might have popped collars: POLOS.

76. "I'm embarrassed for you": YEESH.

78. Mantel: LEDGE.

82. Hammer end: PEEN. I fixed this crack, with cement powder and a butter knife.  

83. Distillery drums: VATS.

84. Raison d'__: ETRE.

85. Fragrant neckwear: LEI.

86. Not all: SOME.

88. Sudsy pintfuls: ALES.

89. Tiny track racer: SLOT CAR.

93. Connoisseur: EXPERT.

94. Garden shovel: SPADE.

96. Peerage member: LORD.

98. Film trailer, e.g.: PROMO.

99. Sioux City citizen: IOWAN.

100. Sphere: ORB.

102. Bigwig: NABOB.

105. Pine (for): LONG.

107. "It __ over till it's over": AIN'T.

108. Skittish forest creature: DEER.

109. Prefix with futurism: AFRO. Afrofuturism. 

112. Wyo. neighbor: IDA.

113. Freight weight: TON.

114. Recede: EBB.

115. Both Y's in IYKYK: YOU.  If You Know, You Know.

116. Prefix with Pen: EPI.

I'm sorry that Jayce lost his precious Lotus. As most of you know, Lotus was from Hong Kong and Jayce speaks fluent Chinese. This makes me feel an even closer connection to him in his grief. I'm glad you have a caretaker with you now, and I hope you're surrounded by comfort, kindness, and support during this difficult time.

 

 

Sunday May 4, 2025 Kelly Richardson & Amanda Cook

Theme: "At Any Rate" -  The last words of the theme entries form a logical movement sequence.

 23. *Old-fashioned establishment?: COCKTAIL LOUNGE. Resting rate.

 37. *Measurement unit on some graph-ruled paper: SQUARE INCH.

 46. *Commodity sold in board-feet: ROUGH LUMBER.

 52. *Charge up?: PRICE HIKE.

 66. *Annual upriver migration: SALMON RUN.

 82. *Group nearly eradicated in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy": HUMAN RACE.

 90. *What may hang by a thread?: HEXAGON BOLT.

 98. *Invasive species that may be spotted in the garden?: LANTERN FLY.

Reveal:

112. Loop in, and a hint to the progression found at the ends of the answers to the starred clues: BRING UP TO SPEED.

Steady progression, from stillness to fly.  Just like the reveal explains, the constructors are bringing things up to speed.

Across:

1. Subwoofer output: BASS.

5. Salsa partner on a dip platter, casually: GUAC. Tasty on the Seeduction bread.

9. Pasta __ Norma: ALLA.

13. The Beyhive, e.g.: FANDOM. Beyoncé's fan base.

19. Spark: IDEA.

20. Fully aware of: ONTO.

21. Tusked hog: BOAR.

22. Like Chamonix: ALPINE.

26. Features of New York's Guggenheim museum: CURVES.

27. Roller coaster material: STEEL.

28. Behind schedule: LATE.

29. [Cough cough]: AHEM.

31. Self or sheep suffix: ISH.

32. Smoked beef cuts: BRISKETS.

35. Writers with star power?: CRITICS. Because they rate in stars. Great clue.

40. Water cooler sound: GLUG.

41. "You rock!," facetiously: NOICE.  OK, it's exaggerated Nice, not NO ICE. Thanks, Anonymous!)

44. Rush: HURRY.

45. D.C. pro: NAT.

48. Memoji platform: IOS.

49. __-12: athletic org.: PAC.

50. "__ Maria": AVE.

51. Staunton of "The Crown": IMELDA. She played Queen Elizabeth.

56. Blueprint: DESIGN.

59. Dates: SEES.

60. Travel plaza fuel supplier: SUNOCO.

61. Villain's hideout: LAIR.

63. Japanese camera brand: NIKON.

65. Org.-wide message: MEMO.

69. Kitten cries: MEWS.

72. Small sound: INLET.

74. "American Fiction" actress Rae: ISSA. Super talented.

75. "Sure, that totally sounds credible": YEAH OK.

77. "Shoot to Thrill" band: AC/DC.

80. Polar dome: ICECAP. Hence NOICE rather than NO ICE earlier. Patti normally doesn't allow this type of dupe. 

85. Carving tool: CHISEL.

87. "Last Week Tonight" network: HBO.

88. Articulate: SAY.

89. Solder element: TIN.

93. Prevail: WIN.

94. Like slow lorises and snow leopards: ASIAN. Look at his eyes. Some live in China's Yunnan province.

96. Knicks legend Patrick: EWING.

97. Like some wine: OAKY.

100. Crux: ESSENCE.

102. Plovdiv's country: BULGARIA. Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, 93 miles southeast of Sofia, a la Wikipedia.

103. Buffalo Bills gp.: AFC.

105. Out of control: AMOK.

106. "You" actor Badgley: PENN. Also in "Gossip Girl".

107. Email option: REPLY.

110. Muss: TOUSLE.

117. Single word on its own line, in typesetting: ORPHAN. Learning moment for me. The orphan and the last widow look the same to me.

118. "If it __ broke ... ": AIN'T.

119. Subscription level: TIER.

120. At any point: EVER.

121. "Kinda weird ... ": IT'S ODD.

122. "Sky Landing" artist Ono: YOKO.

123. Salty septet: SEAS.

124. Ceremony: RITE.

Down:

1. Pen brand: BIC.

2. Big bothers: ADOS.

3. Religious subgroup: SECT.

4. Place to sample Dassai: SAKE BAR. Dassai is a premium sake brand. It means "otter festival". Their website said there used to be many otters frolicking in the nearby rivers where the brewery is based.

5. Net asset?: GOALIE. Hockey net.

6. College, abroad: UNI.

7. Falcons city, briefly: ATL.

8. Gather: COLLECT.

9. Borders: ABUTS.

10. Unaccompanied: LONE.

11. Twitch streamer's headache: LAG.

12. Throw on the floor: AREA RUG. Noun "throw".

13. Jewel side: FACET.

14. Lightweight metal: ALUMINUM.

15. "Code Switch" network: NPR.

16. Capable of an even split: DIVISIBLE.

17. Vending machine bills: ONES.

18. Mosquito net fabric: MESH.

24. "Fresh Air" host Gross: TERRY. Used to listen to her often.

25. Pledge: OATH.

30. Lofty: HIGH.

33. Egyptian peninsula: SINAI.

34. Natural talent: KNACK.

35. Puzzle hints: CLUES.

36. Approaches: COMES NEAR.

37. Impossibly bottled objects: SHIPS.

38. Minimum needed for action: QUORUM.

39. Bearlike: URSINE.

40. Serves the people: GOVERNS.

42. Formally yield: CEDE.

43. Notable periods: ERAS.

46. Ad with a jingle, maybe: RADIO SPOT.

47. Connection: LINK.

49. Vietnamese beef noodle soup: PHO.

53. Creative type?: COMIC SANS. Because the font has a creative vibe?

54. B-school course: ECON.

55. Tail end?: ELL.Just the final letter Tail.

57. Shiba __: INU.

58. Martini ingredient: GIN.

62. Not unkindly: AMIABLY.

64. Portent: OMEN.

66. Length of 24 film frames, briefly: SEC. 24 frames per second is the standard frame rate for movies.

67. Gobbled up: ATE.

68. Repeated syllable in Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance": RAH.

70. "Let's say ... ": WHAT IF.

71. Gregarious: SOCIAL.

73. Stitch's friend: LILO.

75. "Woot woot!": YAY.

76. "Footloose" singer Loggins: KENNY.

77. Yearning: ACHE.

78. Think (on): CHEW.

79. Lemonade stand stackers: DIXIE CUPS.

81. Blow it under pressure: CHOKE.

83. Implementing: USING.

84. Big-brained ray: MANTA.

86. Deli sandwich filling: EGG SALAD.

91. Wearing white to a wedding, e.g.: NO NO.

92. Ritzy Boston neighborhood: BACK BAY. Tom Brady lived in this area for many years.

93. Carrot cake additions: WALNUTS.

94. Latin for "ram": ARIES.

95. Fish often served whole: SNAPPER.

98. Organ in the chest cavity: LUNG.

99. Blunders and bobbles: ERRORS.

101. Fix, as syntax: EMEND.

102. Lunch box with compartments: BENTO. Bento is derived from Chinese Biandang, literally "convenient".

103. Yours, in French: A TOI.

104. Cozy blanket structure: FORT.

106. "__ Pony Club": Chappell Roan hit: PINK.

108. 22nd U.S. vice president Morton: LEVI. Didn't know him. Under Benjamin Harrison.

109. Throw, slangily: YEET.

111. "Fellow Travelers" airer, for short: SHO.

113. Carnival city: RIO.

114. Dessert with a crust: PIE.

115. Rooibos, for one: TEA.

116. Hip-hop pioneer Dr. __: DRE.

C.C.

Friday, January 17, 2025 - Amanda Cook and Katie Hale

 Theme:  It's snack time

 

Puzzling thoughts:

Today's puzzle is a collaboration between two crossword puzzle assistant editors, Amanda Cook and Katie Hale.  Ms. Cook and Ms. Hale filled our goodies bag with five different types of snacks (although I would argue that NOODLES are not a snack) that are found at the end of five familiar phrases:

15-across. Internet cafe snacks?: BROWSER COOKIES.  [Microsoft dot com] describes cookies as "... bits of data that are sent to and from your browser to identify you. When you open a website, your browser sends a piece of data to the web server hosting that website. This data usually appears as strings of numbers and letters in a text file." How about a Moe-ku and cartoon to further explain?

        Beware logging on

        To the Girl Scouts' website; they

        Use BROWSER COOKIES

 

 

22-across. Billiard hall snacks?: POOL NOODLES. Pool noodles are flotation devices, or as this Moe-ku and cartoon describe:

        What might you call brains

        That work while swimming? Of course,

        They are POOL NOODLES

 

 

 

34-across. Arbitration snacks?: BARGAINING CHIPS.  [dictionary dot com] describes a bargaining chip as: "a potential concession or other factor which can be used to advantage in negotiations"; as described in yet another Moe-ku (and image):

        When Lay's and Pringles

        Decide to merge, I heard they

        Used BARGAINING CHIPS

 

 

44-across. Travel snacks?: AIRPORT BARS.  Despite the nearly flawless record of airplane travel, airport bars are still found in most concourses as a haven for nervous travelers to secure a drink (or two, or three) before boarding.  Or, as this Moe-ku and image suggest:

        Where might one find a

        Place to have a flight before

        A flight? AIRPORT BARS

 

 

 

 

 

53-across. Moving day snacks?: PACKING PEANUTS. Packing peanuts are those nut-shaped Styrofoam objects that help cushion your shipment by filling the voids in a package.  Or, as this Moe-ku and image might suggest:

        The preferred item

        Shippers use for elephants

        Are PACKING PEANUTS

 

 

 

They will cushion his trunk!

 

Perhaps this one was left on the editor's desk.  Clue: Bank heist snacks? SAFE CRACKERS.  Ok, so this one didn't make the cut but that doesn't mean there's no Moe-ku or cartoon!

        Parrot's owner is 

        A bank thief. I guess, Polly

        Wants a SAFE CRACKER

Here is the grid: 

 

My "score" for this puzzle is ⭐⭐⭐and 1/4⭐ It could have been higher, but there were far too many three-letter words (TLWs) and abbreviations.  I am sure they were needed to support the large number of entry letters (65), but many of the 17 TLWs were also abbr's (7).  I will point them out below. Also, there were a couple of forced entries (green paint) but again, the use of 5 entries which averaged 13 letters apiece creates filling problems 

Across:

1. Hoffmann of "Transparent": GABY.  I wonder if our Crossword Corner regular, desper-otto, found this 1-Across entry as a stumbling block today?  

Ms. Hoffmann's acting career began at an early age, and she's not that well-known now, methinks.  [wikipedia] lists this as her bio intro: "Gabrielle Mary Antonia Hoffmann is an American actress. She made her film debut in Field of Dreams (1989) and found success as a child actress in Uncle Buck (1989), This Is My Life (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), and then later as a teenager with Now and Then (1995), Everyone Says I Love You (1996), Volcano (1997), All I Wanna Do (1998), and 200 Cigarettes (1999)"

5. Feature of the ROFL emoji: TEAR.  😂 <== this

9. Intel org.: NSA.  TLW #1; abbr. #1

12. Tony kin: OBIE. One of the EGOT categories

13. Foot massage target: ARCH. Who doesn't love a foot massage?

14. Does a bit of tailoring: SEWS.  Did this one leave you in stitches?

18. Vientiane's country: LAOS.

19. "Industry" network: HBO.  TLW #2; abbr. #2

20. Symbol that can mean "approximately": TILDE. ~  <== this

21. Blow up: Abbr.: ENL. TLW #3; abbr. #3

25. Lecture without caring if one's words are heard: TALK AT.  Green paint??  Rarely used entry; seems semi-forced

27. Flamenco cheers: OLES.

28. Show contempt: SNEER.

29. Elisabeth of "The Karate Kid": SHUE.

 

 

 

31. Cricket gear: BAT.  TLW#4

38. Start of something?: ESS.  TLW #5

39. Mercury and Neptune: GODS.  ORBS fits, too
  
40. Slangy "OK": AIGHT.  More green paint??  This, too, seemed forced

41. "Skedaddle!": SHOO.

43. Part of a relay team: ANCHOR.  Usually, the fastest runner on a four-person relay team, and the person who anchors (runs the final leg)

49. Gershwin brother: IRA.  TLW #6 (and if clued as an investment option, this, too could have been an abbr.)

50. __ mail: SNAIL.  The last time I bought a "Forever" stamp from the USPS it cost $0.69 - and when I send a letter from AZ to GA it usually takes a week or more to get there ... SMH

51. Fury: IRE.  TLW #7

52. Eyeliner perfector: Q-TIP.  Unusual clue for this item, but glad to know that Amanda and Katie didn't refer to it as an implement for removing ear wax 

57. Fencing gear: EPEE.

58. Voicemail cue: BEEP.

59. Latin day: DIEM.

60. Big podcast producer: NPR.  TLW #8; abbr. #4

61. Classical closing: CODA.  "Classical", as in classical music

62. Borrowing figs.: APRS.  Abbr. #5; and worse, it pluralizes a TLW

Down:

1. Celebrate wildly: GO BANANAS.  More oft used entry than I would have thought

2. Six-pack producers: AB ROLLERS. A debut entry for published crossword puzzles.  Congrat's, ladies

3. Playbill blurbs: BIOS.  Abbr. #6 - a Playbill is a program that is handed out at theatrical events

4. Longbow wood: YEW.  TLW #9

5. 1990s workout fad: TAEBO. 

6. Barnett of CBS News: ERROL.  Not the first Errol that comes to my mind

 

 

 

This is for all of the ladies who read the blog!

7. Stanford's athletic gp.: ACC. TLW #10; abbr. #7 - Atlantic Coast Conference.  And why is Stanford, a Pacific Coast university part of the ACC?? 

8. Sorority row letter: RHO.  TLW #11

9. "Peaky Blinders" actor Sam: NEILL.  Not one with which I am familiar

10. Rutabaga, to a Brit: SWEDE.  Learning moe-ment for me: Rutabaga is also known as swede (in the UK), Swedish turnip, wax turnip, or neep. It is a winter root vegetable with edible roots as well as leaves that's closely related to the turnip and the cabbage [everyday healthy recipes dot com]

11. Beasts of burden: ASSES.  I can't do a blog without at least one video!! Am I an "ass" for using this one?

14. Hydroplanes: SKIDS.

16. Cocktail measure: SHOT.  Nice use of the clue to soften an otherwise "nasty" word entry.  OTOH, when I measure alcohol in a cocktail (or when drinking neat) I use fingers (two are the minimum)

17. Chiwere speakers: OTOE.  I didn't know who the Chiwere speakers were, but this one filled via perps, IIRC

18. "__ real": LET'S BE.  OK.  That is usually what I am (real) when I blog a puzzle; there's no holding back!

22. Start to ski?: PARA.  As defined

23. Peas and carrots: NOUNS.  Forrest Gump would be happy to know that

24. Designer Cassini: OLEG.

26. Tavern delivery: KEG.  TLW #12

29. Boopable pet part: SNOOT. Another clue that was chosen to help soften a negative word

30. Played sardines, perhaps: HID.  TLW #13

31. Silver Slugger awardee: BIG HITTER.  Not sure that I fully agree with this. A big hitter, as defined, is an important or powerful person.  It can also refer - in baseball terminology - to a sportsperson who is capable of hitting the ball long and hard.  And while the Silver Slugger award is an honor given for the top position players on various baseball teams, it is not what I would define as a big hitter (YYMV)

32. "Better safe than sorry" and "Actions speak louder than words": APHORISMS.  My favorite is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

33. Feature of some dance shoes: T-STRAP.  Splynter gave me permission to use this image, but he removed the stockings:

35. "The Firebird" composer Stravinsky: IGOR.  My kids' HS sports teams were nicknamed the "Firebirds".  Both of my kids were in band, and of course the band director had to feature movements from this iconic symphony during performances, including halftime shows at football games.  Enjoy!  

BTW, the bassoon solo at around the 5:00 mark is one my daughter has played many, many times (and better than this one, IMO)

36. Tennis ball containers: CANS.  As this blog is being written, the Australian Open Tennis Tournament is underway - wonder how Ons Jabeur is doing? 

37. Juice box brand named for its vitamin content: HI-C. TLW #14; abbr. #8 (technically)

41. Sudden surge: SPIKE.  

42. Celebration on the last full moon of Phalguna: HOLI.  Another entry that filled via perps

43. District: AREA. 

44. Poplar kin: ASPEN.

45. Like some add-on purchases: IN APP.  I am betting that as crossword puzzles become more "modern", this phrase will become crossword-ese as well as the word "app"

46. Speed climbing entrant: RACER.

47. Kangaroo, e.g.: BIPED.  

48. Filled cornmeal flatbread: AREPA.

52. Bon mot: QUIP.  Final Moe-ku:

        A witty remark

        Made by certain cotton swab's

        Called: a Q-TIP QUIP

        

54. Network with a three-note chime: NBC. TLW #15; abbr. #9

55. Old Prizm maker: GEO.  TLW #16

56. "For your eyes only" contract, briefly: NDA. TLW #17; abbr. #10

See you on the 31st but will probably be on hiatus after that.  Gonna have cataract surgery and one of the recovery "no-no's" is working on a computer ...