SHOES, BUT SHOES WISELY
A funny farce of footwear fashion; four phrases redefined as
types of shoes defines today's theme ( I decided that since we started the week with "F-stop", I'd go with "F-start" ). Some odd similarities with both Monday & Tuesday's puzzles, I noted. I do believe this is Andrew Walker's first LA Times
publication; congrats to you~! A quick solve for me on this hump-day,
with just a few names, all of which are pretty standard crossword fare.
Two eight-letter non-theme Down fills, but we had more than the usual
three-letter words in today's grid, which caused a few "meh" moments for
me, at least for a Wednesday-level puzzle; Yem Beady. The theme
clues/answers;
17. Shoes for emptying the kiddie pool?: DRAIN CLOGS - not the hair clump type, but these
27. Shoes that prevent slipping in the shower?: WATER MOCCASINS - not the Cottonmouth snake, but these
45. Shoes for attending a gala?: PARTY PLATFORMS - not the political stance, but these
59. Shoes that coordinate with a bright green ensemble?: LIME WEDGES - not the drinks garnish, but these
With lunchmeat~?
And Away We Go, White Rabbit~!
1. Tea in masala chai, perhaps: ASSAM - the "M" was my last
6. Indeterminate but small amount: A FEW - Vague. Get it~? har-har~!
10. Partner: MATE - and - 6D. Partner: ALLY - house MATES was yesterday's theme
14. Stockpile: CACHE - the noun, not the verb; I was thinking AMASS
15. Mischief-making Norse god: LOKI
19. Upscale: NICE - meh.
20. Avis rental: CAR
21. " ... hallowed be __ name": THY - Speaking of Iron Maiden . . .
24. __ urchin: SEA
25. Ring-tailed mammal: COATI
33. Place to kick back: SOFA - we had this on Monday, too
34. Cheri who played Judge Judy on "SNL": OTERI - name, but one we're used to ( I think )
35. __ de los Muertos: DIA - Spanish lesson #1, the "Day of the Dead"
36. Catches with a lure: ENTRAPS
39. Main ingredient of 54-Across: LENTILS - didn't know 54A., so I wouldn't know what's in it
41. Barely scrape (out): EKE - crossword staple
42. Minor squabble: SET-TO
44. Plot devices?: HOES - farming plot, that is
54. South Asian stew: DAL - meh. I'll have to remember this for future puzzles
55. "The Greatest" memoirist: ALI - name, but a standard; Cassius Clay, a.k.a. Muhammad Ali
58. Not protected by defenders: OPEN - made me think of the board game Risk
64. "Family Guy" mom: LOIS - another LOIS appeared on Monday
66. Google Play downloads: APPS
67. "Nasty!": "YUCK~!" - YUCK was in yesterday's clues
68. Lamp topper: SHADE
DOWN:
1. Current letters: AC/DC - has this ever been clued as "Australian rock band~?"
3. Rumble remnant: SCAR - street-gang fight, "rumble"- and SCAR was yesterday's last Across
Neither Joe Perry nor Brad Whitford were the guitarists on this
5. Plato, to Socrates: MENTEE - STUDENT didn't fit, and spellcheck doesn't care for this, either
8. Heart chart, briefly: EKG
9. Know-it-all: WISEACRE
10. Seth Rogen's "Kung Fu Panda" voice role: MANTIS - never saw the movie
12. Social sensitivity: TACT
13. Fencing tool: ÉPÉE
18. Leave on the grill too long, maybe: CHAR - BURN ( Monday ) was not well-done enough....
23. Spot on a shirt, say: STAIN
24. The sun, for one: STAR - a G-type yellow dwarf, if I'm not mistaken
25. Foldout bed: COT
26. Wildcat native to the Americas: OCELOT - COUGAR~? Didn't know, had to wait
27. Fictional chocolatier: WONKA - Willy~!
31. TV's younger Dr. Crane: NILES - his brother was Frasier, the character/spin-off from Cheers
32. Lip: SASS
33. Leak slowly: SEEP
37. Until now: AS YET
38. Spirited gathering?: PEP RALLY - I was thinking KEG PARTY, or SÉANCE(ish)
40. Drive-__ car wash: THRU
43. "¿Qué __?": Spanish greeting: TAL - meh. I keep saying I am going to learn Spanish (#2)
46. Steakhouse options: T-BONES
47. Blemish: FLAW
48. Edmonton NHL team: OILERS - they are up 3-1 on the LA Kings in the Stanley Cup playoffs
51. "The Lost City of Gold" explorer: DORA - ah. I know OF the Explorer the cartoon, but did not know about the city, or, for that matter, that there was a live-action movie . . .
53. Iodine-rich seaweed: KELP - I pondered NORI, waited on perps
54. Home office need: DESK - it does help, that I can tell you
55. Taj Mahal site: AGRA
56. Head up: LEAD
57. Many a Caribbean country: ISLE
60. "Payment forthcoming" note: I.O.U.
62. "Like I didn't know!": "DUH~!" - Like, we're at the last clue, dude
Splynter