Sunday January 14, 2024 Darryl Gonzalez

Theme: "Posted" - Each sign is phrased as if it's in a place in the clue.

23. Sign in a stadium locker room?: DON'T TURN OFF THE FAN. Sports fan.

32. Sign in a writer's room?: AUTHORIZED STAFF ONLY. Author.

58. Sign in a therapist's reception room?: VISITORS MUST SHOW ID. The id in psyche. 

84. Sign at a law firm specializing in the Fifth Amendment?: NOTICE NO ADMITTANCE. Admit.

107. Sign at a cafeteria?: CAUTION FORKLIFT AREA. Fork.

120. Sign at a used bike shop?: PLEASE RECYCLE HERE. Cycle.

Where do you see "Don't Turn Off the Fan" sign?

I like this type of literal rephrasing type. Always makes me think of the great John Lampkin. Have not seen his byline for a long time. Also, where's our Jeffrey?

Across:

1. Old Route 66 city: TULSA.

6. Hindu "sir": BABU. Remember this Babu on "Seinfeld"?

10. Subway fare: HEROS.

15. Audit asst.: CPA.

18. By the seat of one's pants, e.g.: IDIOM.

19. Mil. pilot's branch: USAF.

20. Players between midfield and defense in lacrosse: ATTACK. Never watched lacrosse.

22. Not 'neath: O'ER.

26. Industrial tank: VAT.

27. Cabinet dept. with a windmill on its seal: ENER.

28. Eur. realm until 1806: HRE. Holy Roman Empire.

29. Outrage: IRE.

30. Food mill substitutes: RICERS.

38. Bedroom piece: BUREAU.

40. Trick for a treat, perhaps: SIT. I also like these clues: 41. Bank buildings?: LEVEES 15. Cast party?: COVEN. 49. Full bore?: YAWNER. 47. Cutting edge of fashion?: HEM.

42. Every bit: ALL.

43. "Black" or "white" mammal that is actually gray: RHINO.

46. Propped (up): SHORED.

48. Autocorrect target: TYPO.

52. California's Point __ National Seashore: REYES. Bring me here.

54. N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy, e.g.: SAGA.

56. The America's Cup, for one: EWER.

57. Bring to a near boil: SCALD.

62. Oven setting: BAKE.

65. Early virtual forum: USENET.

66. Leisurely walk: PASEO. I only use AMBLE.

67. Class reunion roster word: NEE.

68. Part of a vague threat: OR ELSE.

70. __ shanty: SEA.

72. Some backyard grills: WEBERS.

74. Home watcher: UMP. Home plate.

75. Not quite right: AMISS.

79. Brand for sensitive skin: AVEENO. They use oats in their products.

83. Long ago, in the past: ERST.

88. Beverage: DRINK.

89. Otis Redding's "__ Little Tenderness": TRY A.

90. Univ. applicant exams: SATS.

91. Shark hunters: ORCAS.

95. Harmonized, with "in": SYNC.

96. Starts working on: SETS TO.

98. Not this second: LATER.

100. Keep a stiff upper __: LIP.

101. Sysadmins, e.g.: IT PROS.

103. __-fi: SCI.

105. Just: MERELY.

113. Learn to live with: ACCEPT.

114. French word common in fragrance names: EAU. Eau de chlorine for me. And yes, Wendy, my flutter kicks are getting stronger, but my left shoulder acted up early this month. I can somehow do breaststrokes, but no freestyle or butterfly. Bummer!

115. 52, in Roman numerals: LII.

116. "Frozen" reindeer: SVEN.

119. Vietnamese soup: PHO. 2. Hokkaido noodle: UDON. 8. Stuffed bun: BAO. Tasty Asian food. 

126. Geological period: EON.

127. Barked sharply: YIPPED.

128. Cold and clammy: DANK. Winter is finally here. Our high is -2 today.

129. Child of Uranus: TITAN.

130. Put on: DON.

131. Secures, as a package: TAPES.

132. Takes responsibility for: OWNS.

133. Informal "Let's say ...": S'POSE.

Down:

1. Laundry brand: TIDE.

3. In a straightforward way: LINEARLY.

4. "Amen to that": SO TRUE.

5. Tsp. or tbsp.: AMT.

6. Small donkey: BURRO.

7. "Carl's Date" voice actor Ed: ASNER.

9. Gallery on the Arno: UFFIZI. "The Birth of Venus" is here.

10. Despised: HATED.

11. Biblical suffix: ETH. And 39. Diminutive suffix: ULE.

12. ETA determiner: RTE.

13. Clod: OAF.

14. Gobbled (down): SCARFED.

16. Oyster bead: PEARL.

17. Like some Pinterest boards: ARTSY.

21. Hibachi chef's need: KNIFE.

24. "Yup": UH HUH.

25. Worries: FRETS.

31. Sam's Club competitor: COSTCO. Everything there is so big. 

33. Anklebones: TARSI.

34. Shape with equal angles: ISOGON.

35. Ease off the gas: SLOW UP.

36. Saint of Ávila: TERESA.

37. Avoids: AVERTS.

38. Trivia night setting: BAR.

44. Goddess whose tears cause the Nile to rise: ISIS. Myth.

45. Corddry of "For All Mankind": NATE.

50. Wire-bending hand tool: PLIERS.

51. Most bizarre: ODDEST.

53. Stunt legend Knievel: EVEL.

55. Aphrodite's consort: ARES.

57. Clog or wedge: SHOE.

59. "What're you gonna do about it?": SUE ME.

60. Pressure cooker release: STEAM.

61. Stitch to: SEW ON.

62. Moves like a kangaroo: BOUNDS.

63. Weapons center: ARMORY.

64. Didn't edit out: KEPT IN.

69. Bag for a field day race: SACK.

71. Thrifty rival: AVIS.

73. Lagerita ingredient: BEER. I did not know the meaning of "Lagerita" : a Margarita cocktail for tough guys, according to Urban Dictionary. Made of lager beer and tequila.

 

76. Summer worker, perhaps: INTERN.

77. More or less: SORT OF.

78. Believes, vocally: SAYS SO.

80. Inclusive Latin term: ET ALII.

81. "Tell Mama" singer James: ETTA.

82. Condé __: NAST.

85. Stir up: INCITE.

86. Not "dis": DAT.

87. Apple tool: CORER.

92. Embrace: CLEAVE TO.

93. Have a bug: AIL. And 94. Have a bug?: SPY.

96. Under a Super Trouper, e.g.: SPOTLIT.  Super Trouper is a brand of spotlight.

97. Humanitarian Schindler: OSKAR.

99. Yahoo! service: EMAIL.

102. __-toe: TIPPY.

104. British name for a game with suspects: CLUEDO.

106. Send again: RE-SHIP.

107. Like many superheroes: CAPED.

108. Tickled nose noise: ACHOO.

109. 2023 NCAA men's basketball champs: UCONN. Their men's team is good too?

110. Stock for oboists: REEDS.

111. "Gone Girl" author Gillian: FLYNN.

112. Woodland pests: TICKS.

117. Periods of time: ERAS.

118. State bird of Hawaii: NENE.

121. Clean air org.: EPA.

122. iPad download: APP.

123. "Told you!": SEE.

124. Crow sound: CAW.

125. "Arrival" arrivals: ETS.

Happy Birthday to dear JD, who sent me this picture around Christmas. JD said "we go to A LOT of baseball, football, volleyball, and basketball games. Dylan, the youngest, prefers Tae Kwan Do, also fun to watch" Dylan was not born yet when JD joined our blog ages ago.

Have a go at this Atlas Obscura "Dry Run" puzzle (12/18/2023) if you have some extra time. One of my favorite puzzles from last year. It's edited by Samir Patel, the editor-in-chief of Atlas Obscura. They have a new puzzle every Monday.

I also have today's Modern Crossword. Click here to solve. Themeless. It's edited by by Kelsey Dixon.

C.C.

Tuesday February 7, 2023 Darryl Gonzalez

Black and White:  There is no grey area in today's puzzle.

17-Across. *  Focaccia with kalamatas, e.g.: OLIVE BREAD.  Black Olive and White Bread.  Black and White can also apply to and White Olive (yes, there is such a thing) and Black Bread.

24-Across. *   Exclusive Hollywood clubhouse that has a Parlour of Prestidigitation: MAGIC CASTLE.  Black Magic and White Castle.  Black and White can also apply to White Magic (magic used to do good in the world) and Black Castle (It's a castle in Ireland).

47-Across. *   Virtual locale for exchanging ideas: MARKET SPACE.  Black Market and White Space.  White Market refers to legal transactions.  Black Space is an Israeli series that was released on Netflix.

56-Across. *   Holiday candle scent: FOREST PINE.  Black Forest and White Pine.  Black and White can also apply to White Forest (a fictional area in the Pokémon world) and Black Pine.

And the unifier:

35-Across. Clear-cut, and what each part of the answers to the starred clues can follow, respectively: BLACK AND WHITE.

Today's theme reminded me of the Entenmann's Black and White cookies.

Across:

1. Athletic activity: SPORT.  //  And 10-Across. Three follower: PEAT.  In sports, a Three-Peat is a third consecutive championship.

6. Diesel, e.g.: FUEL.  Also the stage name of actor Mark Sinclair (b. July 18, 1967), better known as Vin Diesel.

14. "60 Minutes" correspondent O'Donnell: NORAH.  Norah O'Donnell (née Norah Morahan O'Donnell; b. Jan. 23, 1974) has been with 60 Minutes for nearly a decade.   [Name # 1.]

15. Other, in Spanish: OTRA.  Today's Spanish lesson.  Hi, Lucina!

16. Golfer Nordqvist who won the 2021 Women's British Open: ANNA.  I don't follow golf, so was unfamiliar with Swedish golfer Anna Nordqvist (née Ana Maria Nordqvist; b. June 10, 1987), although the perms made her her name was easy enough to fill in. [Name # 2.]

19. Pesters: NAGS.

20. Buffy player Sarah Michelle __: GELLAR.  Sarah Michelle Gellar (b. Apr. 14, 1977) has been in other productions, but will forever be associated as being the Vampire Slayer.   [Name # 3.]

21. Side: FACET.

22. "Is that really true about me?": AM I?

27. TV room: DEN.  [Note:  The cartoon below is a replacement from the original that seemed to cause confusion.  I hope this one makes more sense.]

28. Actor Vigoda: ABE.  Abe Vigor (né Abraham Charles Vigoda; Feb. 24, 1921 ~ Jan. 26, 2016) is probably best known for his role as Salvatore Tessio in The Godfather and as Phil Fish on Barney Miller.   [Name # 4.]

29. Hodgepodge: OLIO.

30. Piece of granite: SLAB.  Often used in cemeteries.

32. Clutter-averse type: NEATNIK.  //  I would expect the beatnik to be 55-Across. Orderly: TIDY.

39. "Funny Face" co-star Fred: ASTAIRE.  Fred Astaire (né Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 ~ June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, choreographer, actor and singer.  He stared with Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face.  [Name # 5.]

40. Penny: CENT.

42. Caribbean landmass: ISLE.

43. "You're it!" game: TAG.

46. "The Catcher in the __": RYE.  The Catcher in the Rye is the 1951 novel by J.D. Salinger (né Jerome David Salinger; Jan. 1, 1919 ~ Jan. 27, 2010) and, when I was growing up, was read in high school.  It may be on the banned list now.  

51. Smallish battery: AAA.

52. "By Jove!": EGADS!

53. Gift giver's exhortation: OPEN IT!

60. Skin balm: ALOE.  A crossword staple.  It appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle.

61. Wide-mouthed jug: EWER.

62. Unsocial one: LONER.

63. Microscope part: LENS.

64. Marries: WEDS.

65. "Last Night in Soho" director Wright: EDGAR.  Last Night in Soho is a 2021 psychological film.    Edgar Wright (né Edgar Howard Wright; b. Apr. 18, 1974) is a British movie director.  [Name # 6.]

Down:

1. __-cone: shaved ice treat: SNO.

2. One running for office, informally: POL.

3. Documents brought to copy shops: ORIGINALS.

4. Big dance party: RAVE.

5. "__ & Louise": THELMA.  I can't believe that it has been 31 years since Thelma & Louise was released.  [Name adjacent]

6. Hunt for provisions: FORAGE.

7. Wombs: UTERI.

8. Pitching stat: ERA.  As in Earned Run Average.

9. Boy: LAD.

10. Camcorder maker headquartered in Osaka: PANASONIC.  Everything you wanted to know about the Panasonic company, but didn't know to ask.

11. Put into law: ENACT.

12. Heavenly figure: ANGEL.

13. Little bite: TASTE.

18. Chatter thoughtlessly: BLAB.

21. Religious belief: FAITH.  Also the name of country singer Faith Hill (née Audrey Faith Perry; b. Sept. 21, 1967).

22. Commercials: ADS.

23. Peach __: fruity dessert with vanilla ice cream: MELBA.  Peach melba was invented in the 1890s by a French chef to honor Dame Nellie Melba (née Helen Porter Mitchell; May 19, 1861 ~ Feb. 23, 1931), an Australian soprano opera singer.  [Name adjacent.]

25. Not just for women: CO-ED.

26. Prize grabber in an arcade game: CLAW.

31. Coloring agents for some textile workers: BATIK DYES.

32. SSW's opposite: NNE.  Compass points.

33. Repeating: ITERATING.

34. Maasai Mara National Reserve location: KENYA.  The Maasai Mara is an important wildlife conservation area in Africa.  It is home to large populations of lions, leopards, cheetahs and the African bush elephant.  It is also important in the Great Wildebeest Migration

36. Docket backlog: CASES.

37. Tartan wrap: KILT.  I was at the theater over the weekend, and there was a random man wearing a kilt.

38. Son of Zeus: ARES.  Ares was the Greek god of war.  [Name # 7.]

41. Lipton beverage: TEA.

43. Slim candles: TAPERS.

44. King toppers: ACES.

45. Low dryer setting: GENTLE.

47. Alloy component: METAL.

48. Nimble: AGILE.

49. Hazardous gas: RADON.  Everything you wanted to know about Radon, but didn't know to ask.

50. Studied, with "over": PORED.

54. Music-playing Apple device: iPOD.  I use my iPod all the time.  I don't know what I will do when the battery finally gives out.

56. Not many: FEW.

57. Be in debt to: OWE.

58. Teachers' org.: NEA.  As in the National Education Association.

59. Go wrong: ERR.

And here's the grid:

חתולה

Wednesday, March 16, 2022, Darryl Gonzalez

 Theme: COLD SHOULDER

20A. *Monday NFL contests, e.g.: NIGHT GAMES. WINTER NIGHT/ WINTER GAMES.

11D. *View from the Oval Office: ROSE GARDEN. WINTER ROSE/WINTER GARDEN.

12D. *Granny Smith, e.g.: GREEN APPLE. WINTERGREEN / WINTER APPLE

27D. *Multi-field athletic venue: SPORTS PARK. WINTER SPORTS / WINTER PARK

28D. *Crunchy salad add-in: WHEAT BERRY. WINTER WHEAT / WINTER BERRY

50A. What happens on March 20, 2022, at 11:33 a.m. ... and what both parts of the answers to starred clues are: WINTER ENDS.

Melissa here. Timely theme, and interesting that there are three down theme answers and one theme answer and the reveal are across (see grid at bottom). Scrabbly with J, K, V, W & Y - but no F, Q, or Z.

Across:

1. Semi-hard cheese: EDAM. Along with gouda, the two cheesiest crossword words.

5. Windows navigation aids: TABS. 

9. Come together: MERGE.

14. Block party item?: LEGO. Cute.

15. Memo abbr.: ASAP. As soon as possible.

16. Atlanta campus: EMORY. Emory University has been cited as one of the world's top research universities.

17. Heaps: A LOT. Noun, not verb.

18. Baby Moses' river: NILE.

19. "Check it out!": GO SEE. 

23. Boo: JEER.

24. Seemingly forever: EON. An indefinite and very long period of time, often a period exaggerated for humorous or rhetorical effect.

25. Architect's work: DESIGN. Architects design structures such as office buildings, businesses, stadiums, schools, malls, and homes. They might also design outdoor spaces. An architect will collect all information for a project to include site selection, environmental impact, zoning laws, building codes, and access to buildings for the disabled.

27. "12 Days" septet: SWANS. In the popular holiday tune, The Twelve Days of Christmas, there are "seven swans a-swimming." (It's over five minutes but HIGH-larious.)

30. Drink with formaggio: VINO. Italian for cheese and wine. Yes, please.

31. Spa sound: AAH.

33. Garden pest: APHID. All about aphids.

34. Keto and South Beach: DIETS. Wonder what the next popular diet will be?

35. Tech sch. near Albany, N.Y.: RPI. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private research university in Troy, New York, with additional campuses in Hartford and Groton, Connecticut.

36. Transvaal settler: BOER. History - South African 'Boer' War.

37. Newspaper VIPs: EDS. Editors.

38. Econ. barometers: GDPS. Gross Domestic Products. GDP measures the value of the final goods and services produced in the United States (without double counting the intermediate goods and services used up to produce them).

39. Front-end car cover: BRA.

40. First stage: ONSET.

42. Skins: PEELS. Works for verb OR noun.

43. ABA member: ATT. ABA=American Bar Association. ATT=Attorney.

44. Quarterback-turned-analyst Tony: ROMO.

45. "A Gallery of Children" author: MILNE. A collection of twelve children's fantasy stories by A. A. Milne. First published in hardcover in 1925, the collection was the author's second children's book and first book of prose for children.

46. Food court pizza seller: SBARRO. First opened in Brooklyn in 1965 by Carmela and Gennaro Sbarro.

48. Grafton who wrote 25 "Alphabet Mystery" books: SUE.

49. WWI German vice admiral: SPEE. Wikipedia.

56. Analyze in a grammar lesson: PARSE.

58. Perth put-offs: NAES. Australian no.

59. Joint malady: GOUT. According to the Mayo Clinic it is a form of arthritis.

60. Symbol for turning traffic: ARROW.

61. Snake River jumper Knievel: EVEL. We see him a lot.

62. Stare in wonder: GAPE.

63. Video call option: SKYPE. So many now.

64. "Hey" assistant: SIRI. So much easier to say than "Okay, Google."

65. 53-Down's firstborn: SHEM. Along with Ham and Japheth.

Down:

1. Verve: ELAN.

2. Sub contractor?: DELI. Clever. Submarine sandwiches, in a delicatessen.

3. Visibly awed: AGOG. With 62A.

4. Light-loving flier: MOTH. The Gypsy Moth Is Now the Spongy Moth.

5. Dances like the one seen in "Evita": TANGOS.

6. Thai or Laotian: ASIAN.

7. Pain soother: BALM. Not aloe.

8. Like a sprint winner: SPEEDIEST.

9. Bit of RAM: MEG. 1GB ram = 1000 MB. Computer memory (RAM) is typically installed in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB), typically in some combination of 256 MB, 512 MB, 1 GB or 4 GB.

10. Face with tears of joy, for one: EMOJI. 😹

13. Observer: EYER.

21. Mind: TEND.

22. Email tab: SENT. More precisely, your sent folder can be opened in it's own tab.

26. Palindromic 33-Down hit: SOS.

29. __ guitar: AIR.

30. Vintage MTV staple: VIDEO. Vintage is right - I haven't watched MTV in EONs, but they stopped showing music videos forever ago.

32. Villain's welcome: HISS. Haha.

33. 26-Down group: ABBA.

34. State capital on its own river: DES MOINES. Iowa.

38. Toothpaste choice: GEL.

40. The Boston Bruins retired his #4 in 1979: ORR. Canadian American professional ice hockey player who was the first defenseman to lead the National Hockey League (NHL) in scoring. He was considered one of the sport's greatest players.

41. Swed. neighbor: NORW. Don't usually see Sweden and Norway abbreviated that way.

42. Berth place: PIER. Nice clue.

45. Granola relative: MUESLI. What's the difference between muesli and granola?

47. "Zeus and the Tortoise" storyteller: AESOP.

48. Texas ranger?: STEER. Another nice clue.

49. Massage spots: SPAS.

51. "Avatar" race: NAVI. In the movie Avatar, the Na'vi are an indigenous species that live on Pandora. They are humanoid in appearance and are 9 to 10 feet (2.7 to 3.0 m) tall, having pairs of eyes, ears, arms, legs and feet like humans, as well as a nose, a mouth, and expressions recognizable to humans.

 

 

52. Breakfast items: EGGS.

53. Biblical builder: NOAH.

54. Hornswoggle: DUPE. To get the better of (someone) by cheating or deception.

55. Originate (from): STEM.

57. Lea grazer: EWE.

Wednesday January 26, 2022 Darryl Gonzalez

Theme:  We'll Get Along Swimmingly or This Puzzle Is All Wet.   You can choose.

It will make more sense if we start with the unifier.

39. '70s-'80s series about the Drummond family ... and what the starts of four long answers are: DIFF'RENT STROKES.  This was 

an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. 

[From IMDB] "

Two black kids from Harlem, Arnold Jackson and older brother Willis, are welcomed into the family of wealthy New York businessman Philip Drummond when their mother, his housekeeper, passes away. The two brothers become part of the Drummond family and learn various lessons about life."  I wasn't a regular watched, but did see this show occasionally.  It was pretty good.

Back to the puzzle: the first word of each theme answer is a specific stroke used in swimming.

17 A. Oxymoronic '80s sci-fi film title: BACK TO THE FUTURE.  This is classic.

The BACK STROKE: Lie on your back and flutter your legs while circling your arms in a windmill motion. You swim on your back and propel yourself backwards. 

28 A. Out-of-the-way access: SIDE ENTRANCE.  Possibly good for sneaking in or out.

Although not one of the official four strokes in competitive swimming, the sidestroke is a great survival technique. This is commonly used by lifeguards because you can hold onto another person and keep them above water while you swim. Lie on your side and scissor your legs to propel yourself forward.

47 A. Place for a pen: BREAST POCKET.  A pocket on the front of a shirt or jacket, located over the chest.

The BREAST STROKE: Float with your stomach facing down, then move your arms in a half-circle motion in front of the body. Bend your legs, then kick back with good timing, and you’ll propel yourself up and forward. This is a great workout and is recommended for those who swim for exercise.

65. Seafood order: BUTTERFLY SHRIMP.  To butterfly a shrimp means to do a lengthwise incision on the front or back of the shrimp in a symmetrical way. Since it should be symmetrical or equally alike, both sides of the shrimp must have the same form when opened – like the shape of a butterfly with wings extended.

The BUTTERFLY STROKE: An excellent workout and common competitive stroke–possibly because it tests a mature swimmer–the butterfly is performed by bringing your arms up above your head, then pushing them down into the water to propel yourself forward. Your legs perform a dolphin kick, in which they stay together and kick simultaneously in a bobbing fashion. 

[Stroke descriptions]

Hi, gang, JazzBumpa on duty.  I'm not much of a swimmer, but lets dive right in to the puzzle.

Across:

1. Natural sand bank: BERM.  A flat strip of land, raised bank, or terrace bordering a river or canal.  I guess it could be sand.

5. Historic times: AGES.  As, free, the jazz AGE.

9. Standing at attention, say: ERECT.  Upright, as a good soldier should be.

14. Diva's solo: ARIA.  From operas and oratorios.  If Game of Thrones were an opera there could be an Arya ARIA.

15. Meter starter: DECI-.  Meaning one tenth of.

16. Cookie maker's tool: MIXER.  To blend all the ingredients

20. "Jeopardy!" contestant: ASKER.  That's the way this show works.   Answers must be in the form of a question.

21. Cub slugger: SOSA.  Samuel Peralta Sosa [b 1968]  is a Dominican American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball for 19 seasons, primarily with the Chicago Cubs. After playing for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, Sosa joined the Cubs in 1992 and became regarded as one of the game's best hitters. [Wikipedia]

22. Paradise: EDEN.  The perfect place, if you can keep it.

23. Anasazi home setting: MESA.  A table land in the American South-west.  The Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, were an ancient Native American culture that spanned the present-day Four Corners region of the United States, comprising southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado.  [Wikipedia]

25. "__ the season ... ": TIS.  To be jolly, so cheer up, dammit!

27. Crowd no., often: ESTimation.

33. It's its own square: ONE.  Also the loneliest number.

34. Nice water?: EAU.  French.  Do you think it's nice?

35. Lanai greeting: ALOHA.  Welcome to Hawaii

44. Enjoying a scone, maybe: AT TEA.  We have tea at 4:00 every afternoon.  Sadly, though, I have to watch my carbs.

45. Call to Jude?: HEY.

 

 46. RN workplaces: ORS. Operating Rooms.

52. African snake: ASP.  As Cleopatra well knew, as the story goes.  But historians dispute the manner of her death

55. Major NJ airport: EWR.  Newark - Liberty International Airport.

56. Prepare to mail: SEAL.  As an envelope.

57. Small deer: ROES.  These are small deer native to Europe, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments.

59. NYC's __ River: EAST.  A salt water tidal estuary in New York City. The waterway, which is actually not a river despite its name, connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end.  Who knew?

61. Salamanca snacks: TAPAS.  Salamanca, in northwestern Spain, is the capital of Salamanca province, part of the Castile and León region.  Appetizers or snacks in Spanish cuisine.

68. Frisky swimmer: OTTER.  Some aquatic creatures are fish.  others are otters.  Either way, they're all wet.

69. "The Clan of the Cave Bear" protagonist: AYLA.  The Clan of the Cave Bear is a 1980 novel and epic work of prehistoric fiction by Jean M. Auel about prehistoric times. It is the first book in the Earth's Children book series, which speculates on the possibilities of interactions between Neanderthal and modern Cro-Magnon humans.

70. Fencing tool: EPEE.  A sharp-pointed dueling sword, designed for thrusting and used, with the end blunted, in fencing.

71. Feature of Mike and Ike candy?: RHYME.  Oblong, chewy, colorful candies coming in many flavors.  The only rhyming aspect I can figure out is in the name.

72. Pour: TEEM.   TEEM means to be full of or swarming with.  I can't relate it to pour.

73. Look after: TEND.  As sheep or children.

Down:

1. Quick Draw's sidekick __ Looey: BABA.

 

 2. Historic times: ERAS.

3. "Casablanca" hero: RICK.  Also classic.

 

 4. Bully's challenge: MAKE ME.

5. Turmoil: ADO.  A state of agitation or fuss, especially about something unimportant.

6. Enjoys the beach, say: GETS A TAN.  Don't forget your sunblock.  You want a TAN, not a burn.

7. Canyon comeback: ECHO.

8. Afternoon break: SIESTA.  Nap in Spanish

9. Long-legged runner: EMU.  Big bird.

10. Serious ceremony: RITE.  By definition

11. Radiate: EXUDE.  

12. Roman goddess of agriculture: CERES.  In ancient Roman religion, Ceres was a goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility and motherly relationships.  [Wikipedia]

13. Stoke-on-__: English city: TRENT.  Known for its pottery.

18. Plant with a trunk: TREE.

19. Gladly, to Shakespeare: FAIN.  Archaic word meaning done with pleasure.

24. Old-time knife: SNEE.  A large knife.  The word has cognates in other Germanic languages. 

26. Sign of surgery: SCAR.

28. Pop at a counter: SODA.  Pop in some regions, soda in others.  or even soda pop.  What do you say?

29. Down but not out: IN IT.  As, for example, the Chiefs with 14 seconds left.

30. Slick: DEFT.  Said of something done in a neatly skillful and quick manner, as for example Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp, as can be seen here.

31. Babe and a doctor: RUTHS.  Baseball star George Herman Ruth, Jr. [1895 - 1948] and Dr. Karola Ruth Westheimer. [b. 1928]

32. "Do Ya" rock gp.: ELO.  Electric Light Orchestra.

 

 36. "That's enough!": OK OK.  TMI; stop it already.

37. "You are __": mall map info: HERE.

38. Exec.'s helper: ASST.  Assistant.

40. Big mo. for chocolate purchases: FEB.  Thank you, St. Valentine.

41. Steakhouse order: RARE.  Style of cooking.

42. Established method: SET STYLE.  I'd call a standard operating procedure, but OK.

43. Work at a keyboard: TYPE.  As I am doing right now.

48. Pretty pitcher: EWER.  A large jug with a wide mouth.  Might or might not be pretty as a picture.

49. 1994 Peace co-Nobelist with Rabin and Peres: ARAFAT.  Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf al-Qudwa al-Husseini [1929 - 2004] popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar, was a Palestinian political leader. 

50. Solemn vow: OATH.

51. Brit's Bordeaux: CLARET.  Unofficial reference to red Bordeaux wines.

52. Garden recess: ARBOR.  A shady garden alcove with sides and a roof formed by trees or climbing plants trained over a wooden framework.

53. TV's "__ Park": SOUTH.

 

 54. Tom of the Traveling Wilburys: PETTY.  Thomas Earl Petty [1950 - 2017] was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, formed in 1976. He previously led the band Mudcrutch, and was also a member of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys.

 

 58. Stop, as a flow: STEM.

60. Roy Rogers' birth name: SLYE.  Leonard Franklin Slye [1911- 1998] aka Roy Rogers was an American singer, actor, and television host. Following early work under his given name, first as co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then acting, the rebranded Rogers then became one of the most popular Western stars of his era.

62. Plumbing part: PIPE.

63. "Right you are!": AMEN.

64. Went too fast: SPED.

66. Before, to a poet: ERE.

67. Yosemite __: SAM.

This wraps up another Wednesday.  Hope you didn't flounder.